Pickelhaube German/Prussian WW1 in Leather

WW1 German/Prussian leather Pickelhaube, a traditional spiked helmet associated with the Imperial German Army and specifically with Prussian units. Unlike Bavarian examples, this version is immediately identifiable by its large Prussian eagle front plate, the emblem of the Kingdom of Prussia within the German Empire.

The helmet is constructed from hardened black leather, shaped into a tall rounded body with a front visor and rear neck guard, both finished with metal edging. Mounted on the crown is the characteristic metal spike on a circular ventilated base, the defining feature that gave the Pickelhaube its name and made it one of the most recognizable military helmets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

At the front is the Prussian eagle plate, while the sides feature cockades positioned at the chinstrap mountings. The helmet is completed with metal fittings, a leather chinstrap, and an internal leather liner, designed to provide stability and fit.

This type of helmet was worn during the early stages of the First World War, before the realities of trench warfare led to the adoption of steel helmets offering greater protection. Even so, the Pickelhaube remains one of the most iconic objects of Imperial German militaria, representing Prussian military identity, molded leather craftsmanship, and pre-modern ceremonial and field headgear design.