It is a picklehauble as worn by an Underofficer in the Sova and Jula dragoons around the turn of the 19th/20th centuries and had been bought in Sweden by the specialist British dealer who entered it into the sale.
With a leather skull, a top spike and front plate with banners depicting two lions and three coronets surmounted by the Swedish crown and leather and chin scale straps the helmet was attractive enough in itself but more importantly as far as the market in arms and armour is concerned, it was in ‘near Grade One’ – that is almost perfect – condition and it attracted keen interest before it sold to a British collector at £300.
Success for Swedish arms
UK: TALES of the glory of Swedish feats of arms have faded somewhat since the days of Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII but the Swedes went on producing quality armaments and armour as was shown this unusual offering, right, at the January 31 sale held by Birmingham specialists Weller & Dufty (15 per cent buyer’s premium).
