French Second Empire Eagle Buckle

Original era manufacture. Handsome stamped brass buckle which measures 60x65mm and displays on its obverse the Imperial eagle of Napoleon III, who reigned from 1852-1870. The French army was quite active during his rule, with expeditions to the Crimea and China, war with Italy in 1866, the expedition to Mexico in 1862, and of course the 1870-1871 War with the German states which brought his empire crashing down.Shows normal wear and use, maker marked COTTIAU on the reverse.