Steve Nick
Well-known member
Here is a parade bush for a Bavarian General that I’ve had for over 25 years. This came to me when I purchased the pickelhaube of Major-General Karl Leichtenstern back in the late 90’s. The pickelhaube came with the Trichter and these feathers were in the storage tube. At the time I didn’t realize that the feathers didn’t belong to the pickelhaube as the helmet was offered wearing the non-parade spike.
I figured out when I had the helmet home that these parade feathers would be worn with the Bavarian Zweispitze prior to the Bavarian adoption of the pickelhaube in 1886 when the General was serving with the rank of Hauptman.
I suspect that whatever the circumstances were under which General Leichtensterns’ helmet arrived in Canada, whoever gained possession of it didn’t realize that the feathers didn’t match the helmet.
I’m assuming these feathers were designed for a Zweispitze because that’s the headgear he would have used prior to introduction of the pickelhaube. I’ve never had a Zweispitze in hand so I have no idea how they would have been attached.
Any insights or comments would be welcomed.
I figured out when I had the helmet home that these parade feathers would be worn with the Bavarian Zweispitze prior to the Bavarian adoption of the pickelhaube in 1886 when the General was serving with the rank of Hauptman.
I suspect that whatever the circumstances were under which General Leichtensterns’ helmet arrived in Canada, whoever gained possession of it didn’t realize that the feathers didn’t match the helmet.
I’m assuming these feathers were designed for a Zweispitze because that’s the headgear he would have used prior to introduction of the pickelhaube. I’ve never had a Zweispitze in hand so I have no idea how they would have been attached.
Any insights or comments would be welcomed.