Pope Pius IX: A Civic Guard Papal Officer’s Helmet

Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Gilt Plate with Pio IX

A Civic Guard Papal Officer’s Helmet

The item is a papal officer’s helmet used in the Papal States dating to the mid-19th century during the papacy of Pope Pius IX.

The skull is of blackened boiled leather trimmed with gilded brass metal parts and the papal cross keys & tiara with Pio IX’s inscription.

The top of the helmet includes a plume holder with a horsehair plume.

This type of helmet was widely used by European armies of that era of which the Vatican Papal States were a part. It continued to be used for parades and other ceremonial duties before the 1870 fall of the Papal States to the Kingdom of Italy.

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Gilt Plate with Pio IX

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Gilt Plate with Pio IX

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Plume Holder

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Plume Holder–Close up

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Side View

: Pius IX: A Mid-19th Century Helmet of the Palatine Guard–Back View

Date April 19, 2020
Tags Blessed Pius IX, Clothing, Swiss Guard, The Swiss Guard