VERY GOOD LOOKING CIVIL WAR OFFICER’S HARDEE HAT SIDE EAGLE

VERY GOOD LOOKING CIVIL WAR OFFICER’S HARDEE HAT SIDE EAGLE

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2

$450.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1311-47

This is a high-end example of the bullion embroidered insignia used to hold up one side of the brim on the M1858 officer’s dress hat - the Hardee or Jeff Davis hat in collector shorthand. Patterned after the popular “Kossuth” hat, worn on a US tour by that Hungarian politician and revolutionary, the style got a tryout with the new cavalry regiments of 1855 and was adopted army-wide in 1858, with enlisted men issued stamped rolled brass insignia and officers using privately purchased embroidered bullion versions of the insignia like this, as well as privately purchased, better quality hats.

This follows the regulation pattern with the arms of the U.S. embroidered on an oval black velvet ground, and measures 2-1/8” by 3” with brown polished cotton back and internal stiffener. The face is edged with gilt jaceron wire, pulled a bit in from the edge by shrinkage of the cloth, but all in place, secure, and showing no stretching of the coils. There are no holes or wear spots on the face. The colors are good. The black velvet has good nap and color showing no shift from oxidation. The embroidery was done with gilt thread and uses coils for highlights, creating emphasis or distinguishing the vertical stripes on the US shield on the eagle’s chest, for instance. The stars overhead were likely silver, though like the gilt thread and coils show a muted, aged tone. The eagle’s wings used gilt coils along the upper edge with the feathers formed by sequins, now showing as a slightly tarnished silver. The ribbon flourished by the eagle show the alternating coils and thread. The red of the eagle’s tongue is clear and his eye is well delineated.

The reverse shows a couple of small moth nips along the edge of the velvet as stretched over the rim to join the polished cotton backing, but everything is tight.  The lower fastening loop is present on the back; the other missing. The backing has no tears or holes and still has its original military goods dealer’s paper label with inventory and price codes.

This would add to an officer’s display or a collection of Civil War insignia, which offers variety, eye-appeal, and history. [sr] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About VERY GOOD LOOKING CIVIL WAR OFFICER’S HARDEE HAT SIDE EAGLE

should be empty