French Circa 1835 Officer Garde Nationale Shako, Restoration Project
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: $225.00

Original era manufacture. This near180 year old officers shako is certainly in need of some TLC, butprovides a good base for a fun restoration.The approximate date of the shako was established through the book, "Plaques de Shakos, De Shapkas, DeBonnets a Poils" by Christian Blondieau. A book dealing with the variations of French hat & helmet plates, 1814-1870.Our example displays a pattern of shako plate which existed from around 1831 to 1837. Whilethis exact pattern is not shown in Blondieau's book, it's basic design issimilar enough to other examples to recognize the pattern, and draw a reasonable conclusion as to age. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONA nine inch tall black full felt body, with a band of one inch silver brocade at the crown, and a black leather top. The visor is securely attached to the body of the shako, with only fragments of the inner reinforcing band and leather lining remaining. Silver washed copperchin scales are swept up, and secured by wire, behind the originalpaint, red-white-blue French cockade.The shakoplate is also of silver washed copper, with a rooster at top, and a curved lower portion with two lion heads(one missing) and a hunting horn with bursting bomb emblem at center.The shako plate is broken but has clearly been in place for many decades as can be seen by the fade line behind the lower portion which has slipped down. There are some tears in the fabric of the felt body at the bottom edge of theshako, yet amazingly it needs no stiffener placed inside to keep it sitting properly for display.The front top edge of the leather top covering shows damage and will need to be backed with some neutral colored material to stiffen things up.All in all it is quite something that this old piece of military headgear has continued to exist at all, given the level of neglect it has endured for many years, and is quite presentable as-is.