European, Early 19th Century Foul Weather Shako
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $595.00

Original era manufacture. A tall, bell topped shako of molded heavy paper, likely dating to around 1830, and my guess would be of French nationality. The entire body of the shako is covered in a thin black painted canvas, with a hand painted bursting bomb and number 5 on the front.On the left side of the shako body are 5 black silk faux securing laces, giving the impression that the covering is removable, when in fact it is not.Pressed leather visor with a raised edge, and green paint on the bottom. Simple black leather liner, which remains pliable after all these years, with all of the fingers present, although the tips of some are missing.The body of the shako is quite sound and displays well. There is a small rectangular section of the covering missing from the front, about .5 x 2.5 inches, otherwise the covering is intact. The top edge of the shako body has been worn away, revealing the heavy stitching which holds the top in place. There is a provision for a pom-pom at front, but that is long missing.