This beautiful pickelhaube still has its original box, a solid and luxurious case with a leather strap for carrying, and lined with fine silk. This was not cheap when it was purchased.
In its current form it is clearly an officers pickelhaube. So, what else is there to say? Well, the devil is in the detail, as they say.
Any German soldier could, if he could afford it, purchase his own pickelhaube. It would have to be within military specifications, but could have a taller spike and gilded metal parts, clearly showing the status of the wearer. The liner would be much more comfortable than the standard military helmets, with calfskin sweatband and silk liner. Much nicer than the pigskin liners of the issued helmets.
To an officer, being poor enough to have to have kit issued to him would be a great shame, they bought their own. That was a matter of status.
However, this helmet, lacking the perlring, and having added loose silver rings to the cockades, probably started life as a mannschaftenhelmet, albeit a luxurious one, then being upgraded to an officers helmet when the fähnrich passed his exam and became an officer. The studs on the spike base being exchanged for stars etc.
It is a fine helmet indeed. The top part of the spike can be unscrewed to be replaced with a horsehair plume, a Trichter. Inside, at the top of that mount the gilding can be seen in its full, not worn, glory. There is gilding on all metal parts, and the chinstrap inside the scales is exquisite.
So, an expensive helmet that probably filled the original owner with pride. Whether the pride of nobility and the rich in a militaristic system is a good thing is another discussion altogether, but they sure knew how to make beautiful things to show status and rank.
It is well worn, though very well preserved. There is a repair to the front of the calfskin sweatband that clearly shows that this has seen quite a bit of use though it has been very well maintained. Who would not look after such an expensive eigentumsstück?
