Light Cavalry Officer's Shako Roll. Late First Empire. Circa 1813.

Light cavalry officer's shako, late First Empire. Circa 1813. The body is veneered in wood covered with black cotton fabric, topped with a blackened and waxed cowhide crown. The crown, 19 cm in diameter, is folded over the edge and covered with silver braid. The shako is 25.5 cm high. It features a large tricolor cockade, 90 mm in diameter, with a domed, silvered copper uniform button in the center. The visor is composed of a triple square silver braid. The horizontal, rounded visor is made of heavy, black, waxed leather. At the rear, a black patent calfskin neck guard, semi-elliptical in shape, 190 mm high, trimmed at the top with a small silver cord, with a silvered copper hemispherical button. The interior lining is black leather cut in a scalloped pattern, and there is a remnant of a black leather chin strap. A scarlet spherical pompom completes the design. Good condition; see photos for details. On each side, a finial supports a racket hook; the two hooks are different. France. First Empire; circa 1813.