The short, flat helmet is made of boiled leather with brass detailing. The visor has a leather strap across the top, covered in brass plates and fastened at the center. The middle of the helmet is decorated with the Coat of Arms of Mexico, a Golden Eagle atop a prickly pear with a serpent in its beak. The spike typical of pickelhaubes is topped by a black horse hair plume.

Weight (Lbs): 1.75
Height (In.): 13
Width (In.): 6.5
Depth (In.): 9
Size: 137.5 x 4.0 x 4.0"
Maker: Unknown
Material: Brass, Leather, Hair
Date: Late 19th C.
Provenance:
Condition: The black lacquer is cracked with the leather beneath it in several places. The brass is somewhat patinated and the eagle design is slightly loose.
History: The pickelhaube is most closely associated with Germany, having been symbolic of the country for many decades after it had fallen out of use - likely due to its use in propaganda against the country throughout the World Wars. It found use in many countries outside of Germany, mostly during the late 1800s and early 1900s, as it fell out of fashion within its country of origin. The most likely explanation for its popularity is Latin and South American countries is the prevalence of german military forces being used to train armies of countries in that area. By 1920, most countries that had used the helmet type had ceased to do so.