French, Second Empire, Artillery EM, Bonnet De Police, Mle 1860

Original era manufacture. An issue quality, enlisted forage cap, of dark blue wool with red piping and a flaming bomb insignia at front. The cap is lined in a tan polished cotton material with faint markings visible. There is some scattered mothing visible on the hat, mostly on the top edge, and towards the rear of the hat.Known as a bonnet de police, this was the standard off-duty hat worn by the troops of Napoleon III during the Second Empire. It's color and trim make it correct for a variety of formations, Artillery of the Line, Engineers, or Artillery Train. In spite of its moth issues, these pattern hats are very difficult to find, and fairly expensive as well. It took me quite a while to find one for my own collection, and was tempted to keep this one too.   It comes with a nice portfolio with documentation and photographs of this exact hat provided by the Paris dealer who sold it to a US collector.