Rare Victorian Volunteer Artillery Officers Home Service Helmet.

A scarce Victorian post 1881 volunteer officer’s helmet with all white metal fittings and a ball top. It carries its original plate for the Artillery Volunteers and has a maker’s mark inside for Cater & Co Pall Mall London. A beautiful quality helmet that has obviously seen some service so there a few minor faults, the first being its original chin strap is missing, this would have been white metal curb chain on a leather backing; reproductions are easy to pick up very cheaply online. It has various areas of wear, mostly on the inside, the red silk liner under the leather sweat band has deteriorated a little and there is wear to the back brim. Where the helmet plate lugs fit through the helmet, the holes have worn over the years and got bigger. I have has leather washers made to hold the helmet plate in place without putting any more stress on the cork body of the helmet. But apart from all that it remains in very collectable condition and it is a very hansom looking helmet. Size approximately 6&7/8ths.

Code: 29602