ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT OFFICER’S HANDSOME GOLD DRESS EPAULETTES AND CHAPEAUX IN THE ORIGINAL METAL BOX

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT OFFICER’S HANDSOME GOLD DRESS EPAULETTES AND CHAPEAUX IN THE ORIGINAL METAL BOX

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$1,200.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 344-1485

This ensemble includes an excellent pair of high grade Civil War era gold dress epaulettes and a black velvet chapeaux that was once part of the dress uniform for a Federal Colonel in the U.S. Ordnance Department.  Officers of rank in the U.S. Army were all required to wear an epaulette on each shoulder of their uniform except when not on duty or performing drill and inspections, courts-martial or on the march.

Still housed in their original black japanned tin box, these excellent, original condition high-grade shoulder epaulettes measure approximately 8” long and are worn on the uniform to fit the curve of the shoulder. The flat topside of the strap is set with a large, solid brass, crescent-shaped device edged with a thin, double jacquard border of spun bright gold bullion. A similar roll of decorative gold bright bullion rope is attached to the outer edge of the epaulette.  Centered in the crescent of each of the epaulettes is a large, oval cloth and gold bullion dome that exhibits a raised gold spun field with the letters “O D” woven in gold bullion on the dome surface and wrapped with a laurel wreath.   Domes measure 3” long and ½” high.  The flat or arm portion of each epaulette bears a very fine gold bullion rank insignia device (spreadwinged eagle) indicative of a Colonel.

The bullion dome on both epaulettes is secured by means of several, small, straight pins at each dome base.  Suspended from each strap’s edge roll is a beautiful, tasseled fringe of spun bright bullion in excellent condition, each tassel ¼” in diameter and 3” long. Underside of each epaulette reveals a fine, red velvet cloth covering used to cover part of the shoulder attachment device.  Protruding through the cloth opposite the tassel end is a long, brass attachment clasp that fits into a corresponding shoulder attachment device on the officer’s uniform coat.  Each epaulette is stamped with either “LEFT” or “RIGHT” with the red cloth and bullion on each device strap in very good, beautiful condition.

The black felt ‘bicorn’ regulation chapeau or hat, made for the high command, is in very excellent original condition. The two-sided specimen appears made of beaver felt on the exterior and is trimmed with intricate black braiding along all the edges.  Left side of hat exhibits a black cockade and a flourish of bright and dead gold bullion over the cockade and at the ‘port’ and ‘aft’ of the hat.   Interior has a wide, beige-colored leather sweat band in very good condition along the brim.  Shows some edge fraying where it joins the crown. Top of inner crown is labeled: “E. A. SEAGROVE & Co. / OUTFITTERS / PORTSEA”.

The original, tin, combination epaulette and hat box has a center handle on a hinged lid and fitted base.  Rectangular box measures 17¾” long x 8¾” wide and 9” high when closed and has been black japanned.  Box, tight and very strong, exhibits numerous scratches to the exterior while the inside is very good with maroon velvet lining over the entire interior.  Box floor has a large raises oval area to seat the chapeaux while two wire supports are soldered to the back to carry the epaulettes.

This super fine pair of field grade officer shoulder epaulettes plus the handsome chapeau in its original japanned box would make a fantastic addition to any collection of Civil War cloth or Ordnance Department rank display.

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