German Model 1867 Prussian Life Guards Officer's parade pickelhaube

Model 1867 polished steel pickelhaube with brass visor trim, rivetting and edge reinforcements. There is a raised reinforcement ridge at the rear of the crown. The helmet features a stepped visor and lobstertail neck guard (nackenschirm). The frontplate (wappen) is made up of a silvered garde star with the words, 'MIT GOTT FUR KONIG UND VATERLAND 1860'. At the centre is a Prussian Black Eagle on a gold background, all surrounded by white enamel with, 'SUUM CUIQUE' and a wreath in gold. The helmet is surmounted by a gilded eagle with upswept wings and wearing a crown. The eagle stands on an oval brass plate with four brass rivets, but is secured to the helmet by a single wing nut. The brass chinscales (schuppenketten) are convex and secured to the helmet with screw fixtures which pass through trefoil rosettes. Beneath these on each side are the Prussian (left side) and Officer's (right side) cockades. The interior of the helmet features a private purchase liner comprising a two -piece yellow silk skull cap sewn to a leather sweatband. The underside of the visor is lined with leather and the neck guard with black velvet.

The Leib Gendarmerie was part of the Prussian general Staff commanded by the Kaiser's Adjutant-General. It consisted of two Zugs (platoons); the 1st Zug (Kaisers) and the 2nd Zug (Kaiserins), each made up of 24 men. Despite their name, this unit had a ceremonial and representative, rather than a policing role. It is understood that this pickelhaube was worn by a member of the Kaiserins.