paul kennedy Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 Can anyone i.d. this item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted December 14, 2013 Author Share Posted December 14, 2013 Could it be horse tack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I've no idea and was hoping someone could identify it as I'd like to know too. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 Mervyn- Thank you so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted December 18, 2013 Author Share Posted December 18, 2013 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). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 Here are better photos with a straighter angle of the crown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul kennedy Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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