A Rare Mid 1800’S Ottoman-Egyptian Khedive’s “Iron Men” Bodyguard Helmet By Wilkinson & Co.

This is a rare, wonderfully preserved, and untouched example of a Khedive’s Body Guard/Palace Guard helmet. It is handcrafted of brass and magnetic iron, with the core of the helmet being made out of plain iron, and sporting a brass topper on the crown of the helmet, complete with a crescent final, and very sharp tips. The helmet is round in shape with a beaver-tail neck guard towards the rear, with brass trim around the edges. The side-band is crafted out of brass, with an arrow-shaped adjustable nose guard on the front of the helmet, complete with a functional retainer screw that allows the arrow to move up or down for adjustment. Both sides of the helmet feature a brass disc with a large five-pointed star in high relief to cover the ears, from which the all-original chin straps are suspended. The chin straps are constructed of interlinking chain-mail in the shape of the number ‘8’,with period blue/turquoise velvet lining. There is an additional thick leather chin strap (of which one is missing) with an additional hook for fastening. Both sides of the chain-mail chin straps are linked together at the bottom by a twelve-link length-adjustable chain. The interior of the helmet features its original adjustable liner constructed of thick leather with multiple dark brown/black leather panels. The reverse half of the helmet features additional chain-mail to protect the neck of the wearer, that measures approximately 17 cm  x 33 cm. The helmet measures 273 mm (including the beaver tail) from front to back, 200 mm from side to side, and 180 mm deep. Although this helmet is very well preserved, age and wear have taken their toll in some ways - the original velvet liners have started to deteriorate and have started to detach from the chin straps. One of the reinforcing leather chinstraps has been lost through time, and although the interior leather liner has lost some of the panels that have become disconnected from the adjustable strap, the liner is very well preserved given its age. Overall, this helmet is a rare find in extremely fine uncleaned original condition.

Footnote: This is the helmet belonging to one of the elite guards (Khedive’s Iron Men) who guarded the Khedive (Viceroy) of Egypt and his palace. Muhammad Ali Pasha was an Albanian Commander of the Ottoman army and declared himself the Viceroy of Egypt after defeating the Mamluk forces. Subsequently, he annexed the Egyptian Army to that of the Ottoman Imperial Army, equipping it with Ottoman uniforms and weaponry. The initially self-declared title was officially recognized by the Ottoman government in 1867. These helmets were European-made by Wilkinson & Co., Pall Mall in Britain, with approximately 600 units made. This helmet is circa 1865- the period when Egypt attempted to build a modern navy, while also initiating trade with other Imperial powers to increase their strength and power over the north-African peninsula. (C:45)