Grandad's Trophy

German Pickelhaube with extraordinary provenance

Who could imagine that this rare Imperial German Prussian Garde Officer picklehaube, would be brought back from Germany as a war trophy in 1945. The pickelhaube then remained with the same family until consigned to ULRIC of ENGLAND.

Prussian Garde Officer pickelhaube for sale. Black leather helmet with large gilted brass coloured eagle, and with a large star burst with white enamel and a black eagle to the centre.  The spike and circular metal base remains, as does the rosette fixings. The helmet missing the metal side bars, cockades, and chin scales. The interior typically with tan leather and silk roof panels.

Condition report:  The helmet leather in generally good order for its age. The metal parts originally of mercuric gilted brass, now aged to a darkened colour. The side bars, cockades, and chin scales missing (these were probably missing back in 1945). The interior with the leather and silk panels now distressed and loose.

Provenance: Acquired Berlin 1945, by Sergeant Major Harold David Thomas Welbourne. He was with the Royal Engineers, and it is during his period of stay in Berlin, directly at the end of the war, that he acquired the Imperial German Prussian Garde Officers picklehaube.

Discharge in 1946, Welbourne brought the pickelhaube back to his home in Burton-On-Trent, where it remained on display in the family's living room for the rerst of his life. After his death in 2008, the picklehaube was willed to his grandson, who in turn has consigned it to ULRIC of ENGLAND. Included in the sale is a signed document of provenance from the grandson, which outlines the history of the helmet since 1945. Also included a copy of a photograph of Sergeant Major Welbourne.

Notes: The Prussian Garde Regiments were based in Berlin. These were elite regiments that also formed the bodyguard to Royal household. The leading aristocratic families would endeavour to get their sons into one of the Garde Regiments.