A circa 1865 Volunteer Rifle Shako. Strong body to helmet with few scuffs. All fittings in white metal including lion boss at rear. Repair to velvet backing on chin chain and internal anchor plate to stop original tuft ball and holder from moving is missing. Helmet plate possibly not original to helmet due to extra holes. This Shako was purchased in Australia and could have been used here.
Overall, in good condition $1750
A scarce NSW other ranks Artillery Foreign Service Helmet circa 1900. The skull cork is still firm with leather edge and helmet plate original to helmet. All fittings are white metal. Leather sweat band with one missing cork spacer. Some damage to green internal material and showing honest wear and tear.
Overall, quite good condition $2850
58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment Junior Officer’s 1855 Pattern Shako, an extremely fine and rare example, the black beaver covered body with sunken patent leather top bracing band front and rear peaks and chin strap, the very fine frontal plate of gilt crowned star pattern with pierced Garter overlay this with ‘mirror back’ gilt slip and central gilt numerals ‘58’ on a black patent leather ground, the buff leather sweatband with attached crimson silk lining, the plate is original to the shako, the white over red wool correct size ball plume is original, with the pierced gilt ‘cut ball’ gilt holder.
Some minor blemishes otherwise in excellent condition. $3850
SB37 Berkshire Yeomanry c1875 - 1899. with storage tin and chin strap.
Very Good condition $650
SB31 Worcestershire Yeomanry c1885 Pill Box cap. Maker Hawkes & Co. Un broken chin strap.
Very good condition $500
SB48 Chelsea Pensioner’s Forage cap.
Good condition $300
SB12 Wolseley Helmet. 7th Queen’s Own Hussars. Hawkes & Co., 1 Savile Row. Page 45 The Wolseley Helmet.
Nice exterior & liner but a rough edge. $250
SB16 The Khaki Solar Pith Hat which replaced the Wolseley circa 1938 to Skinners Horse.
VGC $375
SB17 The Khaki Solar Pith Hat which replaced the Wolseley circa 1938 to The Hampshire Rgt.
VGC $375
SB27 A North Staffordshire Regiment KC Blue Cloth Helmet. Helmet plate original to helmet. Silk liner still attached to leather sweat band. Complete with velvet lined chin chain. Comes with original storage tin attributed to Lt. R. N. K. Colvill.
Very good condition $1650
THE STUART BATES HELMET COLLECTION
Most collectors of British Military Head Dress would be aware of the Leinster Regiment avatar which appeared on numerous forums relating to the collecting of helmets. Unfortunately, our hobby has lost our great friend and mentor. His generosity to those he considered dedicated to the hobby was nothing short of amazing, giving so many of his treasures to those whom he considered friends and true collectors. Publishing books such as “Military Sun Helmets and The Wolseley Helmet”, has at least ensured his contribution to our hobby will never be forgotten. Stuart, you will be sorely missed and thanks for your friendship over many years.
The following lots are all part of his collection with many illustrated in his books.
Polish Zischagge lobster tail helmet circa 1650
High skull consisting of eleven riveted segments. Riveted circular crest plate with short spike. One-piece pointed peak with turned edge and open face. Neck guard of four lames, sturdy laminated chin scales attached to the sides. Iron lining rivets with some being replaced due to normal leather repair.
Note: This helmet was originally sold by Wallis & Wallis as lot 1478 Sale 203, 1974.
Overall good condition $3850
An English Civil War Troopers Three-Barred Lobster Tailed Pot. With hand forged two-piece skull and low turned comb, three-bar face guard joined at the bottom to form a curl point neck-guard of three simulated lames with a turned border, with triangular cheek pieces which are more decorative than the norm. Buff leather straps replaced which is to be expected. Armourers mark on top of peak RR
Purchased from PETER DALE in London some 40 years ago
$5500
PRE-FEDERATION TASMANIAN LOCAL FORCES HELMETS – PAIR – CIRCA 1880
I have been dealing in Military Antiques for 47 years and a collector since I was 6 years old and can honestly say that I have never come across such a wonderful untouched pair of helmets such as these two. Both are in superb condition with no breakdown of cork or mothing. Well done to the people who cared for them over 140 years.
- BLACK CLOTH OR’s HELMET complete with Tasmanian Local Forces first type large helmet plate with two attachment lugs - no extra holes and original to the helmet. Attached leather sweat band with gilt embossing “CHRISTY’S LONDON” Has all the expected fitting’s and lined chin chain. Black horsehair plume with ring keeper which is inserted through a ball. Binding to the base of the plume a little loose.
- WHITE CLOTH HELMET of the same period with the 1876 patent “CHRISTY’S LONDON” label makes it certain that these helmets were purchased together. Typical six panel cork covered white cloth with patten leather hat band of matching colour to the helmet trim and sweat band which has 8 cork spaces. Two internal large brass hooks for the chin chain which was probably interchangeable with the first helmet.
The white cloth helmet came with a double decker Breather button on the top. This threw me for a while as it served no purpose, however, I feel quite sure it was to allow the plume to pass through for parade use. The original owner probably simply “stored” it this way not to lose it. I believe there is a strong possibility these helmets belonged to the Band.
CHRISTYS is not a very recognized maker in the field of Australian Pre-Fed Helmets and helmets to other ranks are impossible to find.
Superb condition and a rare pair $10,000.00
A WW1 PRUSSIAN ERSATZ LANCE CAP in exceptionally good condition completely made of metal construction. Complete with correct single cocarde, chin strap and helmet plate original to the helmet. It also has its original mortar board cocarde. Particularly good leather liner with no damage.
Particularly good condition $2750
An extremely rare Saxon Lion top helmet stand/fitting on which the Lion is attached. When Wilkinson sword closed down, a number of moulds, dies and oddments were sold off online. We were fortunate in purchasing two of these fittings and one can’t help but speculate what Wilkinson were doing with them or if the were contracted to make the helmets at some stage. This one is numbered 69. It is very well made and no doubt impossible to find and guaranteed original as described.
Very good condition $650
A good Victorian 12th Lancers cap complete. Helmet plate with Battle Honours, Peninsular, Waterloo, South Africa 1851.2.3 , Sebastopol & Central India. Two Lion head boss and velvet backed chin chain. The mortar board and skull still have superb finish although the yellow and blue band and red material show a few very minor nips.
The internal liner and frame are in very good condition and there are two marks being W^D and 3 1900. Complete with plume holder and red plume with correct tongue which has lost a little colour.
A really nice example lance cap $2885
A scarce Napoleonic Bi-Corn General Officers hat. The bow in the liner would indicate this hat was worn shoulder to shoulder. Unfortunately the large silk cockade and button are no longer present, but the liner shows good honest overall wear and is all present.
Overall good condition $1650
Artillery Welsh Division Officer’s Blue Cloth Helmet c. 1890 - 1902, the blue cloth skull complete with all gilt metal fittings, the helmet plate of Royal Arms pattern with laurel scroll above the cannon and ‘Welsh Division’ below, internally complete with original leather sweat band and silk lining and retailer ‘Hobson & Sons, London’, no evidence that any other plate was fitted to this helmet, ball pattern finial with the gilt rubbed on the front peak trim, chin chain and spine, moth damage to the right hand side near the rose side ornament
$1475
The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) an Officer’s Black Persian Lambskin Busby. A good quality example as described in Dress Regulations complete with rifle green sewn in cap lines, coiled bugle horn badge with green oval boss, complete with black leather chin strap, sweat band and dark crimson silk lining, scarce with original black ostrich plume over black vulture lower plume with retention ring and plume tin, good condition
$1250
Austrian Cavalry Dragoon Officers Helmet 1905. The skull is made of black-lacquered iron sheet, the visor and neck guard of similar construction and edged in a gilt brass rail, fire-gilt comb, side plates with snake-fighting lion decoration, triple-undulated base plate with 3 semi-spherical rivets per side, imperial double-headed eagle application to the front, chin scales in the form of stylised laurel leaves mounted on black velvet-lined leather, and lion-head rosettes. Below the lion-head rosettes, "Wassersenkel" of black lacquered sheet metal, from which gilt side forks run up to the lower edge of the side plates. The comb decorated with the imperial cipher, the crown and with armatures. No liner otherwise very good condition and a very impressive helmet
$3500
CABASSET late 16th century. Typical form with short spike comb. One lining rivet missing at rear. What is particularly nice about this helmet is that it retains a single original ear flap with small part of liner (see photo). These ear flaps are never seen on these helmets.
Good Condition $2750
