This attribution is based on the central device, which was carried on the sabretache and the cartouche plates of the officers of this unit. The Chasseur a Cheval were Napoleon III's personal escort, in the style of his illustrious uncle. However, this badge was also worn by the cuirassier and dragoon units of the Imperial Guard.
This piece, made of gilding metal and measuring 13.5 x 6.5cm, was completely black with grime when I bought it. I cleaned it carefully with ammonia and soap and its true colours came up, sadly showing the loss of most of the flash mercury gilding to the rayed background, but revealing most of the gilt intact on the central device. There is some minor disfiguration to the rays on the edge of the plate, but there is no evidence of any breakage, crackelure or splits in the metal. The reverse has all its original copper tags for fixing to the cartouche.
Prov: from the J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd. Pattern Book Archive, sold at auction by order of the National Army Museum, London.
If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.
[Militaria : Badges : French : 19th Century]
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