
Fin de Siecle / Gibson Girl · 1900s · American
Production
handmade
Material
leather
Culture
American
Influences
19th century military helmet design
A traditional American firefighter's helmet featuring a high-crowned leather construction with a distinctive rear brim extension. The helmet displays a painted front shield reading 'South Penn 31 Hose' in decorative lettering with ornamental scrollwork borders. The leather appears to be thick, molded cowhide with a glossy finish, likely treated for water resistance. The crown shows characteristic fire helmet proportions with a tall profile and reinforced construction typical of early 20th century firefighting equipment. The painted decoration uses red background with gold and black detailing, representing the fire company's identification and unit number in the traditional heraldic style of American volunteer fire departments.
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