Belgian WW1, pre-WW1 Lancers tschapka
This is a very rare belgian 2nd lancer Tscapka.
The Tschapka was a popular headdress for many other nations. Here is a Belgian lancers Tschapka model 1863 of the 2nd Lancer Regiment, which was very similar in appearance to a German Uhlan helmet. The Belgian Tschapka was a black leather cap with a front visor and a large rectangular mortarboard on top. The cap has a distinctive brass helmet plate depicting a half sun, in which a semi-circular tin plate bears a small rectangular brass shield with two crossed lances and the regimental number. The metal fittings such as the helmet plate and the two lions heads affixed to each side could easily be removed as they are fixed to the helmet with leather pegs, as the helmet was cleaned almost daily and the fittings needed to be removed easily for polishing. The mortarboard is covered with cloth in regimental colors and a 3 cm wide red or white lace runs along the edges of the board. In addition, piping runs over the board and down the sides in the same color as the lace. A brass hook is attached to the rear of the board to attach a cord, similar to the Fangschnur seen on German helmets. The cord would prevent the helmet from being lost. Officers had an almost identical helmet, with all metal parts, piping and lace around the mortarboard given a gilt finish. The helmet is decorated with a wooden rosette covered with cloth bearing the Belgian state colors of black, yellow and red for EM or pink for officers. A white or red horse hair plume for EM or a plume made out of chicken feathers for higher ranking officers make this piece of headgear very impressive.
The helmet is not perfect but still in good condition. The plume is hanging down a bit as well.
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