i.d. help

[paul kennedy]

Can anyone i.d. this item?

[paul kennedy]

Could it be horse tack?

[Tony]

I've no idea and was hoping someone could identify it as I'd like to know too.

Tony

[Mervyn Mitton]

Paul - I would say either the front part of a dress belt plate - with the hooked part going into one of the sides.

The alternative - to my mind - would be for a leather cross belt.. I'm not sure about the significance of the Crown

on it's own - however, it has the more rounded shape of a Georgian Crown - 1714 - 1830, and could , therefore,

date to the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps for a 'staff' officer - although in those days more likely to be an aide.

Can anyone think of a unit that used only the Crown for Insignia ? Mervyn

[paul kennedy]

Mervyn-

Thank you so much.

[peter monahan]

The crown all by itself is odd for a regimental badge. It looks from the photo to be copper rather than brass/bronze. is that the case, or a function of light plus tarnish? If copper, I'd think civilian not British Army but either way I'd tend to horse tack or some form of belting rather than an officer's cross belt, as the fastenings don't look right for a cross belt plate, which had hooks or stubs on the back to fix them in one spot on the belt. This would slide if it were worn on a shoulder belt and regimental waist belts are rare, I think, before the 1830s.

[paul kennedy]

This was a ground dug item. I believe it is brass. The person who owned it dug in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He is deceased, so I have no idea if this was dug by him in the USA. I wonder if there's a possibility of a Civil War connection (British observers).

[Mervyn Mitton]

Paul - if I am right and this is a Georgian Crown, then you could be looking at the Revolutionary period.

For horse harness it would be the Martingale that is in the centre of the chest and holds the harness

together - this is a possibility. However, my own feelings are more towards a uniform accessory.

I think your next line of enquiry must be with some of the Museums in the US, that deal with this early

period. Please let us know how you get-on. Mervyn

[paul kennedy]

Here are better photos with a straighter angle of the crown.

[Mervyn Mitton]

I do think it is Georgian - brass that was originally gilt - you can see the remains. I still think for uniform,

but probably an o/r's. I am a little concerned that the Crown is not sitting 'square' in the mount - may have

had a repir at some time. Do follow-up with an enquiry to a museum. Mervyn

[paul kennedy]

You may be right about it going on a person. The metal gauge is pretty thin. I took a photo with a penny for comparison.

[peter monahan]

I agree with the notion of Georgian dating - gilt brass makes sense. I still can't see where on a person it would be worn, unless it was originally flat and someone has bent it for some reason - far too regular to be accidental. Very interesting piece!