Bavarian Officer Pickelhaube – Infanterie-Leib-Regt

This exceptional officer’s Pickelhaube hails from the elite Infanterie-Leib-Regiment of the Royal Bavarian Army, founded in 1814 and garrisoned in Munich. As the most prestigious infantry regiment in the Bavarian Army, it was considered the King’s Own—a formation deeply steeped in ceremonial and dynastic tradition. This helmet reflects that status in both construction and presentation.

The helmet features an excellent black lacquered leather body with only minor surface spidering, retaining its firm shape and full gloss. Its most distinctive feature is the square front visor, a known marker of officer-grade helmets for this regiment; enlisted versions instead featured the standard rounded visor.

At center is an elegant frosted silver Bavarian officer’s Wappen, featuring the crowned lozenge shield of the House of Wittelsbach, flanked by two crowned rampant lions and the motto scroll “In Treue Fest” ("steadfast in loyalty"). The frosted finish and sharp detail throughout affirm this as a private-purchase officer helmet of high quality.

Additional officer fittings include:

• Tall fluted silver spike, mounted on a silver pearl ring

• Silver cruciform spike base, correctly pierced and seated with officer stars

• Silvered visor trim (front only) and backstrap, all original and bright

• Flat silver chinscales, mounted to officer-grade rosettes

• Correct officer cockades: silver-rimmed Reich (right) and gilt-ringed blue-white Bavarian (left)

The interior features a beautiful rust-colored ribbed silk liner, fully intact, paired with a complete cross-stitched leather sweatband. The liner is supple with only minor age wear and no structural compromise.

One minor deviation from regulation: the officer stars are brass, which is not standard for Bavarian officer helmets (which called for silver stars). This may indicate a post-purchase replacement or manufacturing variation, though it does not detract from the helmet’s otherwise regimentally correct and highly desirable configuration.

CONDITION:

• Leather shell in excellent form with minor surface spidering

• Frosted silver Bavarian officer Wappen, sharply detailed

• Tall silver fluted spike on pearl ring; silver cruciform base with star brads

• Flat silver chinscales, silver visor trim, and silver backstrap all intact

• Correct officer kokarden for Bavaria and Reich

• Brass officer stars (non-regulation but historically observed on some helmets)

• Interior rust-colored ribbed silk liner fully intact

• Leather sweatband complete and supple

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
The Infanterie-Leib-Regiment, founded in 1814, was part of the 1st Bavarian Infantry Corps and held the distinction of being the premier infantry regiment of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was stationed in Munich and served as the personal infantry unit of the Bavarian king. Its members frequently appeared at court events, imperial reviews, and state ceremonies—often in full dress with precisely tailored uniforms and privately purchased helmets like this one.

Bavarian officer Pickelhauben diverged from their Prussian counterparts in several notable ways:

• Silver trim (vs. Prussian gilt)

• Frosted Wappen with larger, more sculptural lion supporters

• More elegant, tapered spike profiles

• Regimental distinctions such as the square officer visor used by the Leib-Regiment

Few helmets combine this level of regimental specificity, original parade-ready fittings, and pristine interior preservation. It is a superb example from Bavaria’s most prestigious infantry regiment.

PROVENANCE:
From the private collection of a respected American militaria collector known for preserving state-specific officer helmets with original liners, fittings, and cockades. This piece has not been offered publicly in over two decades and is consigned directly from that collection.