Shako Of The Fusiliers Of The Young Imperial Guard, First Empire.

SHAKO OF THE YOUNG IMPERIAL GUARD FUSILIERS, First Empire. 32606. Body made of black felt, 20 cm high. Crown of very strong waxed cowhide leather, Ø 23.5 cm, folded down onto the felt to a height of 3.7 cm. At the bottom of the felt is sewn a plain cowhide leather bourdalou (strap), 2.3 cm wide, with a brass buckle and its prong at the back, buckle height 2.6 cm, width 2.2 cm. Below this buckle is a simple calfskin gusset to facilitate the movement of the bourdalou. A rounded visor of strong varnished cowhide leather is sewn to the front of the shako, 5 cm wide. A plate (or escutcheon) affixed to the front, in stamped brass, depicting a crowned imperial eagle holding Jupiter's thunderbolt in its talons. The plate is 11 cm high and 9.5 cm wide. A tricolor painted leather cockade is placed above the plate and attached to the shako body with a clasp on each side. It has a diameter of 6.6 cm. The outer circle is white, then red and blue in the center. Below the cockade is a gusset for the tassel, attached to the body with a seam. Chin straps: On each side of the shako is a chin strap, consisting of a double sheepskin chin band, onto which are mounted 16 brass scales, alternately cut into two or three scallops, the last one circular at the end. The first scale is 3.5 cm wide, the second slightly less, and so on, decreasing in width to the last, which is 1.7 cm. Each of these scales is secured with a flat wire. The chin strap is fastened by a rosette, referred to in the 1812 regulations as a "large button," made of the same metal as the chin strap, 3.9 cm in diameter. It is stamped in its center with a five-pointed star. Each chin strap is finished with a canvas cord. The interior lining is made of black sheepskin and is 4 cm high. It has a scarlet wool carrot-shaped pompom with a green base. The pompom is 15.5 cm high. France. First Empire. Good condition, some moth holes and damage to the felt, three scales missing from one of the chin straps, the upper part of the interior lining is missing, and the chin strap ties are later.