Papier-mâché

[Mike Dwyer]

I was just looking at a very nice Prussian Guard Infantry officer's pickelhaube on the Helmut Weitze site and I noticed it states it was made of Pappmachée. Excuse my ignorance, but are we talking papier-mâché here? The helmet in the photo looked very nice, like a new leather helmet. I can't believe a papier-mâché helmet would have lasted very long.

[Arran]

Indeed, during the First World War some helmets were constructed of papier mache; needless to say, they are quite rare today. They were not as flimsy as you might imagine, though, being laquered inside and out. Keep in mind that in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, and for an even longer period in Asia, papier mache was used to create a diversity of objects which survive today, including furniture!

Cheers,
Arran.

[Mike Dwyer]

Indeed, during the First World War some helmets were constructed of papier mache; needless to say, they are quite rare today. They were not as flimsy as you might imagine, though, being laquered inside and out. Keep in mind that in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, and for an even longer period in Asia, papier mache was used to create a diversity of objects which survive today, including furniture!

Cheers,
Arran.

Thanks, Arran, for the information. I guess I'm only thinking of the very limited contact I've ever had with papier mache, which was as a child in school, and it was pretty flimsy!