French 1st Empire, 123rd Regiment of the Line, 1810 Shako Plate & Regimental Button, Russian Campaign 1812

Original period manufacture. Field recovered, stamped brass diamond shaped plate measuring 92 x 112 mm across the points. Embossed regimental number 123, finely cast regimental coat button measuring 22 mm. Four stitch point boss on the reverse for sewing to the uniform coat. I detect a trace of original fire gilding remaining, or, it may be my 75 year old eyes misleading me at this point. This regiment was formed from Dutch soldiers, for service in Napoleon's Grande Armee. They acquitted themselves well when defending the bridgehead on the Berezina River in November 1812. Comes with two pages of printed research on the history of the 123rd.