An extremely rare and most attractive example of a mid 19th century officer’s Kepi style forage cap as introduced circa 1855 and worn during the Crimean War.
Dark blue melton cloth with a wide gold oak-leaf pattern lace band surmounted by a gold staffordshire knot. Gold braid to crown welt denoting field officer rank. Ornate gold russia braid figuring to the crown. The patent leather peak with one row of gold bullion. Gold lace and braid being correct for the Staffordshire Yeomanry at this time. Leather chin-strap attached with hooks concealed behind the sweatband. The interior complete with leather draw-string sweatband and padded circular stitched crimson silk lining.
The sweatband bears the officer’s name written in black ink - now difficult to read.
This really is a superb example of it's type. There is evidence of moth as one would expect on a melton cloth item of this age but it is relatively minor and it in no way detracts from the overall appearance. The most affected area is fortunately at the back of the cap above the gold lace and this has been backfilled with matching dark blue melton cloth which greatly reduces it's presence - see photo. I also believe the chinstrap to be a replacement. These thin and fragile chinstraps are often missing on these very early caps either because they broke or because the officer found them to be a nuisance and removed them himself - remember beards and whiskers were very fashionable then!