Dolman And Pelisse d'Un Garde d'Honneur, Model 1813, First Empire.

DOLMAN AND PELISSE OF A GARDE D'HONNEUR, model 1813, First Empire. 33647/33648

DOLMAN.
In dark green cloth with scarlet collar and facings, white braids and braid. Straight front closure with eighteen white braids trimmed with five rows of pewter half-barrel buttons. 9.5 cm high collar framed by 1.3 cm wide white woven braid. Dolman trimmed all around with the same white braid as the collar and covering the back seams and false side pockets. Pointed sides edged with the same white braid and fastened at the back with four black lacquered metal hooks and clips. Inner lining in ecru canvas.
H of sleeves 63 cm. Width between armholes at shoulder level approx. 38 cm. H from bottom of collar to bottom of back 39 cm.

PELISSE.
In dark green cloth, with eighteen white braids at front, each trimmed with five pewter half-glot buttons, closing straight at front. Pelisse edged with 9 mm wide white woven braid and 6 cm wide black sheepskin. The same braid also covers the two back seams at the back and shoulders. At the back, at the bottom of the back, eight triangular-shaped half-barrel buttons are sewn on. Collar covered with black sheepskin, H 10 cm, with a double white cord at the front base for closure. Pointed sides covered with black sheepskin. Unlined sleeves.

France.
Late First Empire craftsmanship.
Good condition, repairs, accidents and restorations. Pelisse restored by master tailor Christian Colmont in the 1980s, replacing the fur and inner lining and part of the braids.

NOTE:
When the four Garde d'Honneur regiments were created, period archives and testimonials mention that many of the Guards had their uniforms and equipment made locally in the provinces. These fabrications gave rise to a wide variety of cloths, colors and materials; the qualities obtained were varied, sometimes average. The result in the regiments was a great disparity.

ICONOGRAPHY:
Pelisse reproduced in Mr. Alain Pigeard's book "l'Armée Napoléonienne" published in 1993, page 246, JN collection. Published in Vincent Bourgeot and Alain Pigeard's "Encyclopédie des Uniformes Napoléoniens", 2003, Volume 2, page 455, collection H&H.