French Second Empire, Circa 1860, Garde Nationale Enlisted Artillery Shako

Original era manufacture. A very sound, and completeexample of a French Garde Nationale enlisted Artillery shako, perhaps around the time of the Crimean War, or war with Italy in 1860.The cardboardbody displays a thin covering of black fur, with a red worsted wool band at the top, and a black painted fur-felt top. There is a black painted thin leather band at the bottom, black painted, pressed leather visor and original brass insignia set into the front of the shako. There is a removable red wool and horsehair double plume at top.The interior of the shako is unlined, with a makers label in the crown. There is a wide Moroccan leather sweatband with a black cotton extension at the top edge of the leather. Amazingly, the original black painted chinstrap is intact.At the time of our purchase the old cardboard sales tag was attached to the small ring below the rear ventilator. It reads, 'Off. Arty. France 1850' with a price of $90 on the other side. Overall the shako is in very, very sound condition, with no issues, beyond light, normal age and wear.