Unusual WWI German helmet with plate

[Kbraafladt]

Hey Guys,
I ran across this unusual WWI German helmet and am not sure if someone made it up or if it was something that some other country used after WWI. The plate has excellent detail with a double headed eagle. No crowns or Imperial ordnamentation but it has has 8 shields. Can anyone identify this plate? Does it belong on this helmet as a later added on piece?
Thanks for the help!
Kevin

[Kbraafladt]

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[Brad Posey]

That used to be a nice helmet..........

[Grenztruppen]

That used to be a nice helmet..........

Yea, what a shame some fool had ruin it.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Outside of shell is no doubt a re paint. The plate seems to be fitted to the helmet but I don't think it's German origin?

W.

[Adler 1]

Outside of shell is no doubt a re paint. The plate seems to be fitted to the helmet but I don't think it's German origin?

That plate looks more like it belongs at the front of a swiss bakery oven or a stove...

Adler 1

[DaveG]

As you know, the two-headed eagle was used by many countries including Spain, Serbia, Austria-Hungary, etc. but looking through some references and a quick check of the internet turned up nothing exactly matching the helmet plate on your helmet. As one poster has already noted, it is fitted to the helmet which indicates a certain attention to detail making it something unknown but original, or a well-crafted fantasy piece. The eagle looks to be holding two identical orbs in its talons which I couldn't find an example of, and the cross shield on the eagle's chest is similar but not eactly like some examples I found in my internet search. If the eagle plate is original to some organization or country, someone on this forum will ultimately identify it.

Regards,

Dave

[Kbraafladt]

Dave and everyone else,
I do appreciate the efforts to help me identify this helmet. I was having the same thoughts that it was some sort of made up or fantasy piece but it just looks too well done and like it was made to be there for a fantasy piece. I did a similar search to try and match the two headed eagle up with some country, and as one person noted Poland has a similar eagle but still not the same. One of the other clues I was trying to find was that there are 8 shields which I felt probably represented states or as Dave mentioned maybe that means something as far as an organization.
As one poster also noted the outside was repainted and is not a perfect job as there are small runs in the paint. Another observation I wanted to point out is that there was a second shield on the back that has been removed, and the holes for the screws to go through look like they a metal punch was used, but that the metal was heated before as there is discoloring to the paint inside and out. I am attaching some additional photos.
Thanks again this is an interesting mystery.

[Kbraafladt]

Inside front lip where the screw has fallen out or was possibly removed. It looks as though it was heated from the inside and punched from the outside.

[Kbraafladt]

Outside back of helmet showing paint discoloration.

[Kbraafladt]

Last one of the inside showing the way the screw that is holding the plate on is attached.