Symbol of the cavalrymen, this helmet dates back to 1820 when Vittorio Emanuele I, King of Sardinia, approved a new type of helmet for the Cavalry Regiment "Royal Piedmont". It was formed by a shiny yellow metal bowl with the inferior part bandaged by black bearskin and rimmed by yellow metal. The leather visor was covered by fur. The leather chin straps were covered by brass flakes joined by a metal buckle. On the higher part of the helmet, above the decoration there was an oval disc, adorned with a spiral pattern. The decoration in relief was located on the front part; it was in brass and formed by a crowned eagle with unfolded wings, an oval shield on the chest and the Savoy cross inside.
During the ceremonies and with the great uniform, the helmet was garnished by long black horse hair fixed by a lion-head-shaped support in brass. On the left side of the helmet, there was a blue plumage 20 cm high.
In 1822, this helmet was also given to the Genoa Dragons Regiment with a few changes such as the bowl colour that was in silver metal. During the ceremonies and with the great uniform, it was garnished by a crest in blue chenille rather than the mane with lion and the blue plumage.
In 1828 this helmet was given to the Piedmont Dragons Regiment when it was constituted. Since 1833, it was decided to give all the cavalry regiments this type of helmet, except for the Royal Piedmont Cavalry Regiment that conserved its typical helmet until 1840, when it was unified in one shape for all the cavalry regiments.
Three years later the decoration with the brass eagle was abolished and substituted by the silvery metal Savoy cross of 10 x 10 x 2.5 cm. In the same year (1943) a blue cockade (of the Savoy family colour) was adopted; in 1848 it was substituted by a tricolour cockade that was in silk for Officers and Marshals, a woollen cockade for Non-Commissioned Officers and a printed painted leather cockade for the troop.
In 1872 it was ordered the use of the helmet only for the first four cavalry regiments, that is Nice, Royal Piedmont, Savoy and Genoa.
With this helmet, the Italian Cavalry faced the World War I, covering it by a green cloth. A black cross was stitched on the front that recalled the metallic Savoy cross. The helmet of the Colonel, Regiment Commander, had got a tassel that reproduced an exploding grenade with flame and Savoy cross and a plume of heron. This accessory was used during official ceremonies.