Baden officer Pickelhaube – griffin arms, gilt trim, line infantry helmet

Distinct among the German states, Baden’s military identity lives on in this elegant officer’s Pickelhaube — distinguished by its gilded griffin front plate and regal ducal crown. This is a textbook example of the fine helmets worn by officers in Baden’s elite infantry regiments. It is both a regional rarity and a sharply preserved artifact from one of the lesser-seen grand duchies.

Baden line infantry officer pickelhaube with gilt griffin front plate

Preliminary Identification:

• Helmet Type: Pickelhaube (spiked helmet)
• Branch: Großherzogtum Baden (Grand Duchy of Baden) – Line Infantry
• Rank: Officer
• Period: ca. 1895–1914
• Key Features: Gilt griffin Wappen with motto, gilt spike and trim, Baden cockade, officer-quality construction

 Verified Features & Comparative Analysis:

1. Wappen (front plate):

• Design: Gilt Baden state Wappen featuring the griffin of Baden holding sword and shield, with the motto “Mit Gott für Fürst und Vaterland” (“With God for Prince and Fatherland”).
• Crown: The central arms are topped by the arched ducal crown of Baden (distinct from the Prussian or Saxon royal types).
• Historical Accuracy: Matches standard post-1895 Baden officer Wappen as shown in Larcade Vol. I, pp. 164–166, and the Sammlung Feistel (Stuttgart).
• Mounting: Original screw-post mounting, no additional or widened holes.

2. Cockades:

• Left: Baden state cockade — red/yellow rosette with gilt metal officer backing
• Right: Reich cockade — standard red, white, black on gilt rosette
• Significance: Presence of both cockades confirms use after 1897 when Kaiser Wilhelm II mandated dual cockade display

3. Spike and Trim:

• Spike: Smooth officer’s spike with open vent neck, mounted on a circular gilt base with four star-shaped officer retainers
• Trim: Gilt finish along front visor and rear spine, matching the officer-grade chinscales
• Chinscales: Convex brass, leather-backed, mounted on standard officer rosettes with screw-posts

4. Helmet Body:

• Shell: High-quality lacquered leather with visible grain; form retained with minimal warping or shrinkage
• Finish: Minor lacquer crazing and edge wear but consistent with age; no shell deformation
• Liner: Deluxe tan calfskin sweatband with cream silk officer headliner, lightly aged but complete
• Visor Undersides: Green front, red rear — consistent with officer construction standards across German states

The Grand Duchy of Baden, though integrated into the German Empire in 1871, retained its own military contingents (Badische Truppen) under the broader command structure of the Prussian-led army. Baden’s line infantry regiments carried their distinct griffin-emblazoned arms and state identity until the end of the monarchy in 1918.

Baden officer helmets were never mass-produced on the scale of Prussian Pickelhauben. Their uniqueness lies in:

• Regional mottoes and griffin symbolism
• The gilt ducal crown (as opposed to imperial crowns)
• Officer-grade fittings acquired through private purchase, often tailored to the regiment

This example almost certainly belonged to an officer in one of the four major Baden infantry regiments stationed in Baden’s traditional capital cities such as Karlsruhe or Freiburg.

• Exterior: Leather shell in excellent form with uniform finish
• Trim: Gilt fittings show light patina; no polishing or refinishing observed
• Interior: Original sweatband and liner present with minor creasing only
• Hardware: No extra holes, all original screw mounts intact
• Cockades and chinscales: Period authentic, no restoration or replacement

• Gilt Wappen is crisp and untouched, silk liner complete

This helmet comes from a U.S.-based collector known for sourcing state-identified officer helmets with original fittings and rare configurations. This is one of only a few Baden officer helmets consigned from his holdings.