OFFICER UNIFORM OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD DRAGOONS, KNOWN AS EMPRESS DRAGOONS, 1854 model, Second Empire. 26915
HELMET
Entirely made of copper and gilded brass: bomb depth from the base of the rosettes 15.5 cm, from the visor and neck guard 18.5 cm. Visor edged with a gilded brass strip folded over the outer edge (visor width 4.5 cm), lined inside with a green waxed leather. Neck guard edged similarly to the visor, lined with brown leather. The bomb is stamped at the back "DELACHAUSSÉE." Front band embossed in relief representing an "N" surmounted by the imperial crown and framed by two laurel branches linked by a ribbon, band height 10.5 cm. Crest embossed in relief (H 11 cm, width 4.5 cm), composed of two fins representing a series of decreasing compartments towards the back and a mask decorated with raised flat moldings with a relief Medusa head at the top. The base of the fins is cut into festoon shapes, each fin is held to the bomb by 4 hemispherical head screws; the mask is held at its base by one screw.
Plume holder consisting of an olive 6 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in height, embossed in relief with twisted moldings, a socket embossed with the same decoration as the olive, H 3.2 cm, diameter 2.5 cm. At the base of the socket, a toothed disc cut into a palmette shape is fixed.
An egret made of black horsehair extends from the socket, 5 cm high. Black horsehair mane mounted on a leather sole, fixed to the bomb by an iron screw, it measures 80 cm long (from the top of the crest), the center is adorned with a gold passementerie braid.
Tubular plume holder with a slightly tapering square section (4 cm high) decorated in the upper part with a festooned molding cut into a palmette.
Chinstraps: each composed of a round rosette (5.2 cm in diameter) embossed in relief with laurel leaves, chinstraps in leather lined with black velvet and covered with 15 intertwined engraved rings (the widest measuring 3 cm wide and the narrowest 2 cm), chinstrap length 18.5 cm; the chinstraps end with a black varnished leather strap on one side and a brass square-buckle on the other side. Inner leather lining finely waxed in black cut into 9 golden-bordered wolf's teeth.
Total height of the helmet 34 cm.
Plume made of curled cock feathers (height 16 cm) mounted on a whalebone ending in a metal hook (height 23 cm), olive pompom in golden cinnamon threads.
Very good condition, surface wear on the velvet of the chinstraps, slight rubbing of the gilding on the most protruding parts, worn interior with two wolf's teeth torn and partially missing.
COAT "KURTKA"
Light green wool coat buttoning straight at the front with six black horn buttons, scarlet piping, straight scarlet wool collar piped in light green, pointed cuffs in light green wool piped in scarlet, adorned with two small gilt uniform buttons, diameter 1.7 cm, embossed with an eagle and the inscription "IMPERIAL GUARD." Back with scarlet wool belt loop adorned with small button. Turn-backs in light green wool piped in scarlet adorned in each corner with an embroidered silver gilt grenade on light green background, vertical false pockets forming three points, scarlet piped and adorned in each point with a large uniform button, diameter 2.2 cm. Two large uniform buttons are attached at the waist level. Epaulette straps in white wool woven "fish tail" braid mounted on light green wool. Light green wool plastron for formal occasions lined with brown satin. This plastron attaches on both sides of the kurtka by means of seven small gilt uniform buttons and four hooks at the top.
Interior lining in ivory silk and scarlet wool.
Good conservation condition.
PAIR OF CAPTAIN'S EPAULETTES
Epaulettes entirely made of gold threads, braids, and cords, with gold cord body, lined with dark green wool, gold fringes and "well ropes" turning ornaments. Gilt uniform buttons, rounded and bearing the imperial eagle with the inscription "IMPERIAL GUARD."
Good condition, usual oxidation of the trims, one of the cords on one of the epaulettes is split.
AGUILLETTES
Golden silver cord aiguillettes, dark blue wool loop, gilt brass ferrets adorned with laurel branches and a crowned "N."
These aiguillettes are of the Imperial Guard infantry model as the loop is made of dark blue wool.
Very good condition.
CARTRIDGE BOX
Wooden box covered in red morocco leather, sides in gilt brass. Black varnished leather shoulder strap decorated with a radiant sun with the imperial arms in embossed gilt brass at its center, edged with a plain gilt brass strip, H 10 cm, width at the top 14.5 cm, width at the bottom 16.5 cm. Buff leather bandolier, 5.5 cm wide, with specific relief stitching on each side indicative of the Imperial Guard, all fittings in gilt brass. At the back, the buckles consist of a rectangular loop, a loop, and a fleuron, at the front a radiant sun stamped with the imperial eagle connected at the top by three chains to an imperial crown.
Very good condition.
France.
Second Empire.
Reference :
26915