Germany, Ordnungspolizei. A Feuerschutzpolizei Visor Cap for Officer Ranks, Owner-Attributed, by J.A. Hierteis

(Feuerschutzpolizei Schirmmütze für Offiziere). A well-preserved Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Police) visor cap for Enlisted ranks, constructed of police-green wool with a subtle whipcord weave. The cap features reinforced side walls which are fully lined on the exterior with a black wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with carmine piping, while an additional length of identical piping surrounds the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak is a tri-colour cockade constructed of aluminum with a red wool centrepiece, measuring 23 mm in diameter. Directly below the cockade, the centre of the cap band is pinned with an aluminum Ordnungspolizei insignia measuring 50 mm (w) x 50 mm (h). The lower edge of the band is flanked by pebbled aluminum studs which accommodate a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and roller silver aluminum wire, adjusted at each end with sliding knots of identical construction. A protruding vulcanfibre visor completes the exterior features, and is finished in black on the obverse and in dark green on the reverse. A multi-piece brown oilcloth liner encompasses the interior, while a wide brown leather sweatband surrounds the walls. The crown retains a transparent plastic moisture guard which is situated over a silvered maker’s mark of “J.A. HIERTEIS SÖHNE, FÜRTH-NÜRNBERG”. Inserted into the guard is a paper label bearing a handwritten owner’s name and rank of “MSTR. SCHUMACHER” (Meister), while the crown is also appropriately stamped with an “POLIZEIPRÄSIDIUM NÜRNBERG-FÜRTH”. The cap measures approximately 24 cm (w) x 27.5 cm (l) x 17 cm (h). Minor material fatigue consistent with both age and period wear is evident, and includes a tear to the front centre of the sweatband which exposes the interior structure, but this cap, produced by a noted manufacturer of headgear to all branches of the Ordnungspolizei, remains in a near extremely fine condition.