Royal Artillery

This is a rare Victorian officer’s spike-top Royal Artillery helmet. The artillery only had spike-tops from 1878-1881, after which they adopted the ball-top. As it would have been easy to simply reuse the helmet by removing the spike and replacing it with a ball, surviving examples of helmets retaining their original spikes are few and far between. The inside has two labels. One reads “New Regulation Solid Cork Helmet.” The other is a manufacturing label for Stillwell & Son Accoutrement Manufacturers. From this label, the helmet can be dated to 1879-1880. It is in good condition with very little wear and with its original storage tin. The tin has been repainted in black. This helmet was part of the collection of the late Stuart Bates, a well known helmet collector and co-author of “A Gallery of Military Headdress.”