Helmet Frontpiece, “Humane Hose 20”
Helmet Frontpiece, “Humane Hose 20”
- Description (Brief)
- The frontpiece (also known as shield or badge) of firefighting helmets has been a distinctive part of the American firefighter’s helmet since it was developed by Henry Gratacap in the early 19th century. These frontpieces displayed a variety of information. The fire company's name and number appeared, often alongside the city or town where it was based. The frontpiece could also include the owner's initials and rank. Most fire helmets had leather frontpieces, but frontpieces could also be made of metal, especially on presentation helmets or those worn in parades.
- This leather frontpiece was made in the 19th century. The brown frontpiece has raised brown leather lettering that originally read “HUMANE/HOSE/20/JAB” but some of the letters are now missing. The frontpiece has decorative stitching around the rim, as well as outlining the initials on the bottom of the piece. The Humane Hose Company No. 20 operated in New York City during the middle of the 19th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- frontpiece, helmet
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States
- Physical Description
- leather (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 8 in x 5 3/4 in; 20.32 cm x 14.605 cm
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1476
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1476
- Credit Line
- Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
- Clothing & Accessories
- Firefighting Collection
- Work
- Helmet Frontpieces
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.
