1808-1812 Life Guards Cuirassier Regiment officer's helmet (Napoleonic wars era)

Lotto 1448
9 00011 000
Model 1808 Russian Life-Guards cuirassier officer's helmet of black leather with two leather reinforcing bars on each side, with upright black horsehair crest, a large reddish-copper brass plate extending upwards to the edge on the front of the comb with silvered enameled star of the order of St. Andrew the First Called with yellow painted center. A black leather chinstrap covered with brass chinscale. Front and back visors of black leather with front having brass edge.  Of extreme rarity! Minor damage to the liner, minor loss of paint on reinforcing bars and sweatband, craquelure on the leather of the helmet's skull with loss of lacquer in one place, but overall - very good original condition. All original parts with no restoration or replacements. Provenance: Private collection in the USA