The British infantry shako was finally abolished in 1878 and replaced by a helmet. It was made of cork and covered with blue cloth. This example is dated post-1881 because the badge does not include the numeral IX beneath the figure of Britannia. The Victorian crown dates it as before 1901 when the Queen died. Officers had a more pointed peak than other ranks, and the edge was bound with gilt metal at the front, and with black patent leather at the back. The gilt spike on top was 3.25 ins high and the gilt chin-chain was secured on the left side with a gilt rose and either passed under the chin to hook onto a similar rose on the right or crossed over the peak to link up with a hook at the back.
