Yesterday, while browsing a non-specialist antiques show, I came across a helmet I have never seen before. At first I thought it might be a theatrical piece, but thanks to Google and a smartphone I was able to do some quick research and I discovered that it is a European-made helmet for the Khedive's Bodyguard (Model 1844, I think). I snapped it up even though armor is not really my thing. It was the perfect combination of a nice low price and a fun research and conservation project. The condition is not great--it is rusty, and it is missing its leather liner, mail aventail, and chin straps. Right now it is soaking in Breakfree CLP, but I took some hasty photos to document how it looks before I get rid of the active rust. When I am done bringing the helmet back from the brink, I hope to have done a bit more research on the helmet type and will share my findings.

Here is what one of these helmets looks like when it is complete and in good condition:

(Uncredited photo from Pinterest)

http://www.ottoman-uniforms.com/crimean-war-t...t-tunisia/

more info, including some pics of the cuirass used by the Khedive's Bodyguard

nice and interesting find Jonathan.

Interesting bit of history you have here. They played an interesting mix of copying European while trying to maintain tradition at that time.

RPM

Thank you, Eric!

Sa'ar... that is more or less what I was saying. This helmet shows the Egyptians attempts to keep local decoration and tradition while incorporating modern ones from Europe. Muhammad Ali was the gent who jump started this phase of Egyptian government and he had a whole program to get largely modern weapons and such to become a regional power. Sadly it put them indebt to Europe and came to haunt them for decades.

RPM

Thank you, everyone, for your input so far. So far I have coated it in Break Free CLP and allowed it to sit for a few hours, removed rust (mostly) with bronze wool and brass wire brush, and lightly polished it with Simichrome. Now it is once again coated in Break Free to try to penetrate the remaining rust. The helmet will never look like new, but it will have a nice old appearance (it is old, after all!) without any orange or brown rust. Here are a few quick phone pics after its second coat of Break Free.

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I'm sort of wishing for that dent in the back of the helmet to be a proof mark, though of course in reality that's highly unlikely.

I am thinking about making, or having made for me, the missing pieces--brass mail aventail, leather liner, and chin straps. Here is the helmet thus far...

Eric,
Here is another image of Egyptian cavalry including the cuirassiers:

https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:247578/

Jonathan

And two more showing other Egyptian soldiers:

https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:247581/

https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:248852/

Eric,
Unfortunately the website for the Abdeen Palace Museum is no longer working, so I am not sure how to contact the museum about their arms and armor collection. I emailed the website admin for the Supreme Council of Antiquities to see if he might be able to help me establish contact. It would be great to speak with someone who has direct access to the objects that might answer our questions rather than have to guess or wonder about things. In addition to their collections of arms and armor they must have some photos of Egyptian cuirassiers. I cannot imagine the khedives did not want to document the pageantry of their personal guards. I will keep you posted.

Jonathan

Oh, I don't think they will know a lot, but they might be able to share some additional images which could be of tremendous help!