Inkipedia

Pickelhaube Helmet Inkwell

Categories Figural - Inanimate
Type Military
Material Cast iron
Markings See Narrative
Manufacturer Undetermined
Origin Germany
Date or Era circa 1900
Measuring 6 ⅛” high

An inkwell in the form of a German pickelhaube helmet. The original design, adopted by Prussia in 1842, eventually became the standard headgear for the Imperial German Army from the mid-1800s through the outbreak of World War I. Each German state had its own distinctive helmet plate. The gilded brass plate on this inkwell is the Bavarian version. It has the Bavarian State coat of arms supported by two lions. Above it, the State motto, “In Treue Fest” (In Loyalty Steadfast) is inscribed. The helmet is hinged and opens to access a glass inkwell. The base is signed with crossed pistols.

Sold for $700 in July 2024

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