South Devon Militia Officer's Shako
South Devon Militia Officer's Shako
An 1869-1878 last pattern shako to the South Devon Militia of dark blue melton cloth to the crown and body with a patent leather peak/visor to the front. Two rows of quarter inch silver lace run around the top of the shako and one row around the base. The shako is topped with a white over beige woolen ball tuft supported by an ornate brass holder with plain ball base. A velvet backed silvered chin chain hangs around the shako supported at the sides by silver coloured rose pattern ear bosses and at the rear by a silver coloured lion's head mask. The interior has a leather sweatband and crimson silk lining. To the front of the shako is a two-piece badge consisting of a voided gilt garter with the title "South Devon Militia XXV Regt of Militia" surmounted by a Victorian crown and in the centre is a gilt rampant lion. This all sits on a silver coloured shaped backing plate. The two-piece badge is loose, with the gilt portion not firmly fixed to the backing plate but this does not affect the overall appearance and could easily be re-affixed. Overall, this piece is in exceptionally good condition for its age and would epecially suit a Devon collector.
South Devon Militia Officer's Shako
An 1869-1878 last pattern shako to the South Devon Militia of dark blue melton cloth to the crown and body with a patent leather peak/visor to the front. Two rows of quarter inch silver lace run around the top of the shako and one row around the base. The shako is topped with a white over beige woolen ball tuft supported by an ornate brass holder with plain ball base. A velvet backed silvered chin chain hangs around the shako supported at the sides by silver coloured rose pattern ear bosses and at the rear by a silver coloured lion's head mask. The interior has a leather sweatband and crimson silk lining. To the front of the shako is a two-piece badge consisting of a voided gilt garter with the title "South Devon Militia XXV Regt of Militia" surmounted by a Victorian crown and in the centre is a gilt rampant lion. This all sits on a silver coloured shaped backing plate. The two-piece badge is loose, with the gilt portion not firmly fixed to the backing plate but this does not affect the overall appearance and could easily be re-affixed. Overall, this piece is in exceptionally good condition for its age and would epecially suit a Devon collector.
