Officer's Shako Of The 120th Line Infantry Regiment. First Empire.

Shako, Model 1812. France. The body is made of felt reinforced with paper on the split sides, edged at the bottom with a black velvet band showing wear, without a tightening buckle at the back. It is covered by a 24.5 cm diameter black waxed cowhide leather crown folded down over the felt and covered with a 2.8 cm wide gold braid. The body is approximately 20.5 cm high. The visor is made of embossed black patent leather. The tricolor fabric cockade, made of white, scarlet, and blue braid, is 6 cm in diameter and features an eagle button and double gold twist. The Model 1812 brass front plate is stamped in relief and cut out in the shape of a crowned imperial eagle with outstretched wings, holding Jupiter's thunderbolt in its talons, resting on a shield-shaped base with the number "120" cut out. Chin straps composed of a leather chin band covered in black velvet and adorned with 15 scales alternately cut into four scallops, finished with a lace. Round rosettes stamped in their center with a 4 cm diameter star. Interior lining composed of a 5.5 cm high black leather band, the silk is missing. Gilded semi-spherical pompom. Fairly good condition for its age. France, First Empire. Historical context: Spain and the Battle of Toulouse.