R-4 Persian Qajar Period dress helmet. Probably a palace guard. Gilt brass skull with a relief "ribbon bow" pattern border. Rounded top base holding a round ball finial/crescent and star decoration. An unusual feature on the back is a separately affixed age toned gilt brass 5 1/2" x 4" simulated double layer of tassels. Separately affixed Persian emblem (lion holding a sword with a sunburst background) within a 3 1/4" x 6 3/4" laurel leaf wreath. 19th century Austrian style age-toned relief gilt brass laurel leaf chinscales. 2" diameter relief gilt brass flower petal bosses (type used on French dragoon officer helmets between 1850 and 1870). Leather drawstring liner. Probably French made. Overall, the helmet shows some small dents on the top round section and a slight line separation on the round ball finial. The leather on the reverse side of the chinscales show expected wear, as does the liner. Several replaced contemporary washers and screws. The helmet still retains most of the original gilt finish. Circa 1880-1890. Rare. II

See description for I-III scale (III=poor)