RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

We’re sending you pictures of an item we hope you can supply us with some information about. This hat has been in our family forever. I’m 76 years old and remember it being on a shelf in our living room when I was a child. We were forbidden to touch it. Apparently, as the story was told to me, it belonged to a relative that served in the German army before World War I. Unfortunately, that’s all the information I can supply to you. We really enjoy reading your informative column each week and are aware that you are quite knowledgeable on military items. Therefore, we would like your opinion on this item, as to its age, value and perhaps any history relating to it. Thank you for your diligence. 

Hermann

Hermann, thank you for reading this column each week. Now please allow me to clear up two misconceptions about this item. First, it is not German, it is of Austrian origin and second it is not a hat, it is a leather and brass helmet. Your interesting helmet dates from 1905 and was worn by a Dragoon senior officer in the Imperial Austrian Army. So it is correct that your relative was in service before the first world war. The large gilt brass plate along the front depicts the double-headed Hapsburg eagle. Please notice the center of this eagle has a cypher in the center with the initials “FJI.” These initials stand for Franz Joseph I, (1830-1916). He was the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and ruler of the other states of the Hapsburg monarchy from 1848 until his death in 1916.There is a large metal comb across the top of the helmet that is embossed with an intricate design depicting a lion slaying a serpent. From your photographs it appears this helmet has remained in very good condition. The leather and gilt brass detailed oak leaf chin scales appear to have also remained in very good condition. These areas are very important to helmet collectors because this is commonly where any damage or wear and tear is often found. As I have repeatedly mentioned in other recent articles, military memorabilia and collectibles are currently experiencing high demand and strong market interest. Good news for you. I personally have sold a couple of these helmets over the years, however, none recently. I wish I still had the ones that I sold in the past, as they have substantially increased in value. Your Imperial Austrian M1905 Dragoon Senior Officers Helmet in its present condition has a value of $1500 USD. If you had any information on the particular soldier that this helmet actually belonged to, it would increase its value. It was a smart decision on the part of your parents to forbid you from touching or playing with this helmet when you were a child.