National Guard Musician's Officer's Shako, Model 1848, France, Second Republic

A superb and rare Model 1848 shako belonging to a musician officer of the National Guard, dating from the Second French Republic, which lasted from November 1848 until the establishment of the Second Empire in December 1852.
The shako body is made of cardboard covered with felt. It is decorated on the front with a tricolor cockade as well as a silver-plated copper plate, the silver plating of which is still nearly 100% intact. This plate is adorned with a rooster surrounded by laurel leaves and surmounting a stylized lyre. 

The top of the shako is edged with silver canetille officer’s braid, and the bottom with a velvet band known as “bourdalou.”
The visor is made of black leather on the outside and green on the inside.
Leather chin straps decorated with silver-plated copper scales, with nearly 100% silver plating remains. They are attached to the shako by "rosettes" also stamped with a lyre, like the front plate.
Complete leather inside liner.
A double red pompon adorns the top of the shako.
Outstanding shako , especially in such exceptional condition. Very slight signs of wear on the inside headband.
A beautiful testament to a turbulent era in the history of the French Republic.
Dimensions:
Total height: 26 cm including the double pompon.