France : Black Beret of the Chasseurs Alpins (Mountain Troops) complete with Badge.

Large black beret, (31.5cms dia) with the silver Chasseurs Alpins cap-badge secured with the correct type of pin fixing. Inside is a faded label showing the manufacturer to be 'Z,Beighau Oloron' with the date 1989 and the size '56'. There is a handwritten owners name 'Sgt MAS'. Very good condition.Zechariah Beighau initially set up business as a wine merchant in Oloron St Marie in the south of France. In 1928 his son Xavier started the manufacturing of berets under the family name ..The business continued until 1996 when far-eastern competion forced them to close.