BRIDGE AND ROAD ENGINEER'S HABIT, model of 7 Fructidor Year XII, Consulate - First Empire. 27609
National blue cloth coat embroidered with threads, cannetilles and silver sequins on the collar, cuffs and pockets and on the waist crest.
The cut is “French style”. The panels close on the chest with a single row of nine buttons. The collar is reversed (approximately 8.5 cm) in crimson cloth. The sleeves, with straight facing (H 9.5 cm) in crimson cloth. From the waist badge bearing two buttons, and on either side of the slit, two flat pleats descend. Horizontal flap pockets.
The collar, facings, waist and pockets are richly embroidered with waving laurel branches intertwined with a stick of pearls. A single thread strip highlights the collar, facings and pockets.
The buttons are in gilded brass in the general model for officers under the Revolution: lictors' bundles with the inscription "FRENCH REPUBLIC", some sewn.
Interior lining in uniform cloth and crene silk.
France.
Consulate - First Empire.
Fairly good condition, moth holes, some accidents, period repairs to the collar lining, repairs to the sleeves and waist knot cloth, the two buttons at the waist knot are from the troop model, moth holes to the silk of the interior lining.
Note :
We currently only know two examples of this coat, this one and one of the chief engineer which you can find in the archives of this site.
SOURCES:
Extract from the decree containing the organization of the corps of bridge and road engineers. (From 7 Fructidor Year 12.)
" Art. 22. The uniform of bridge and road engineers will be, French habit, of national blue cloth, lined in the same way, buttoned on the chest, and open on the thighs; A single row of buttons on the right side of the coat; pockets across and three-pointed with three buttons, one button at the start of the pleats, and two along the length. Reversed collar, of crimson cloth, mounted on a straight collar, eight centimeters high. The sleeve of the coat cut below, with crimson cloth facing, garnished with three small buttons. »
Reference :
27609