Bidspirit auction | French 19th Century Leather Sapeur-Pompier

French 19th Century Leather Sapeur-Pompier Medical Officer Helmet - A 19th-century French firefighter helmet, known as a Casque de Sapeur-Pompier, identified for a medical officer within the fire service. The skull and visors are constructed of blackened boiled leather, or cuir bouilli. The front visor and rear neck guard are finished with brass channel-style edge bindings. A brass reinforcing band is fitted across the crown of the skull. The front of the helmet features an ornate die-struck brass plate with a central flaming grenade motif over crossed axes, both superimposed upon a pair of crossed caducei, signifying a medical capacity such as a fire department doctor or surgeon. Circular brass ventilation rosettes are located on the sides of the leather skull. The interior retains its original multi-tongue leather sweatband and a coarse linen drawstring liner. Fragments of a flat leather chin strap are present, attached to the internal side loops. Length: 10.5 inches (26.7 cm). The leather skull and visors show advanced dehydration with extensive cracking, crazing, and surface alligatoring. Significant areas of surface loss are present on the black lacquered finish. The brass components exhibit a heavy, natural dark patina with localized spots of oxidation. The front insignia plate is slightly loose. The interior linen liner is heavily soiled and shows fraying and wear from use. The leather sweatband is dry and brittle with some stitch loss. The leather chin strap is broken and incomplete. The overall structure is fragile.