BELT BUCKLE PLATE FOR THE FULL DRESS UNIFORM OF THE GARDES DU CORPS DE LA MAISON MILITAIRE DU ROI, French Company (second company), Former Monarchy (1770-1780). 29822
Rectangular iron plate, H 6.5 cm, width 8 cm with curvature, width 7.7 cm without curvature, covered with dark green cloth, bordered by a silver framing strip molded in relief with lines (width 7 mm), and in the center, a silver insignia stamped in relief and cut in the shape of a sun face on a radiant background (diameter 3.5 cm); the central insignia is attached to the plate by means of two nuts. Plate complete with its rear hook and its single prong buckle.
France.
Former Monarchy, around 1770-1780.
Good condition, cloth with some moth holes.
NOTE:
Since the 1758 regulation, the belt of the Garde-du-Corps is in silver embroidered buffalo. There is no mention in period texts regarding the belt plate of the Former Monarchy. However, iconographic documents indicate the appearance of this type of plate around 1770. A second type of plate exists, similar but with a rounded border in the corners and more richly decorated, which leads me to believe that this second type appeared later between 1780-1789 (?).
COLLECTIBLE ITEM:
The belt plate is of great rarity; personally, we have only documented four examples (two from the Scottish company, one of which is in the collections of the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, and two from the French company, one with very little cloth remaining). The second type is known in a few more examples but still very limited. The belt itself seems to be the only surviving example, making it an almost unique specimen.
Reference :
29822