WW1 Era GERMAN / PRUSSIAN SPIKE HELMET PICKELHAUBE For Sale

WW1 Era GERMAN / PRUSSIAN SPIKE HELMET PICKELHAUBE
This item is from a family estate.
Item has wear and tear from age; refer to pictures for any questions.
AI description is below:This is an original (or high-quality period) Imperial German/Prussian Pickelhaube (spiked helmet), most likely a late-19th to early-20th-century example associated with Prussian line infantry or a related unit.Key Identifying Features

• Black lacquered leather shell with a rounded crown, front visor, and rear neck guard. The leather shows typical age-related cracking, crazing, and surface wear.
• Pointed metal spike (Spitze) mounted on a cruciform (cross-shaped) base with a decorative “pearl ring” (Perlring) around the neck of the spike. Ventilation holes are visible near the base. Cruciform bases were standard earlier and remained common on certain units or private-purchase helmets; later issue infantry often used round bases.
• Front plate (Wappen): Large Prussian heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, royal crown, holding a scepter and orb. Across the wings/chest is the banner reading “MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND” (“With God for King and Fatherland”)—the classic Prussian Army motto. These plates typically also carry the “FR” cypher (for Fridericus Rex / King Frederick) on the eagle’s breast.
• Chin strap: Overlapping metal scales (Schuppenkette) in a brass/copper tone, attached via circular side bosses that also carry the state and imperial cockades (kokarden). Scale straps were more common on officer, NCO, cavalry, or better-quality private-purchase (Eigentumshelm) examples than the plain leather straps of basic enlisted issue.
• Side/top fittings: Decorative star- or leaf-like ornaments near the spike base and sides, plus a metal rear spine (Rückenleiste) for reinforcement.
• Overall metal finish appears mixed (silvered/nickel-toned on the plate and spike, warmer brass tones on the scales), which is consistent with period examples that have aged differently or used mixed fittings.

Historical Context

The Pickelhaube was introduced by Prussia in 1842 under King Friedrich Wilhelm IV as a more modern replacement for earlier shakos. It became the iconic helmet of the German states and, after 1871, the unified German Empire. Different German states (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg, etc.) used their own heraldic front plates while sharing the basic spiked form.

It was primarily a parade and peacetime helmet. The hardened leather offered almost no protection against modern rifle fire or shrapnel, so during World War I it was gradually replaced (from 1916) by the steel Stahlhelm. Many Pickelhauben were captured as souvenirs by Allied troops.

Rank / Quality Clues

• Star-style or decorative fittings on the spike base, full metal scale chin strap, and overall detailing lean toward officer, senior NCO, or private-purchase quality rather than basic enlisted issue (which more often had domed rivets, simpler leather straps, and solid crowns on the plate).

Condition Notes

The leather shows honest age wear (cracks, scratches, finish loss), and the metal has patina and some oxidation. This is typical and desirable for authentic pieces; pristine “mint” examples are often reproductions or heavily restored. Reproductions exist in large numbers, so authenticity is best confirmed by a specialist examining the interior, stitching, metal composition, and construction details.

In short, this is a classic Prussian-style Pickelhaube with the iconic eagle and motto, showing the characteristic features of the Imperial German period. It is a solid representative example of the type that defined the visual image of the German soldier from the mid-19th century through the early years of World War I.