SHAKO OF THE 17th LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENT HUNTSMEN, 1810 MODEL, First Empire. 33700(18679)

SHAKO HUNTER TROOP OF THE 17th LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENT, model 1810, First Empire. 33700 (18679)

The shako body consists of a 19 cm tall felt. The crown is made of very strong black waxed cow leather, with a diameter of 24 cm, folded over the felt to a height of 4 cm. At the base of the felt, a leather chin strap (or "bourdalou" in French) of 2.3 cm width is sewn, with an iron buckle at the back (H 2.27 cm, width 2.2 cm), and an iron buckle tip. Below this buckle, there is a simple calf leather gusset to facilitate the movement of the chin strap. The leather visor is attached to the front of the shako, made of strong cow leather, with a width of 6 cm at the bottom and 5.5 cm at the top, in a half-circle shape.
A lozenge-shaped (or escutcheon) plate is affixed to the front, made of embossed white iron, featuring a hunting horn and the number "17" in relief at its center. It measures 10.7 cm in height and 11 cm in width. A tricolored woven passementerie rosette is placed above the plate, with a 7 cm diameter, sewn onto the felt. A chin strap made of double white woven "cul de dé" lace is attached to the center of the rosette, under the plate.

Under the rosette, there is a small pocket for a plume, attached to the felt by stitching. Each side of the shako features a chin strap made of a double sheepskin strap, adorned with 14 brass scales cut alternately in two or three scallops, plus a fifteenth circular-shaped scale at the end. The first scale is 3.4 cm wide, decreasing in width towards the last scale with a width of 1.5 cm. Each scale is secured with a flat iron wire. The chin strap is fastened by a rosette, referred to in the 1812 regulations as a "large button" of the same metal as the chin strap, measuring 4 cm in diameter. At the end of each strap, there is a cord to secure the chin strap under the chin.

The shako features a spherical green woolen pompom with a diameter of 6 cm, mounted on a folded steel wire and placed above the rosette. A braided green woolen tassel cord is secured to the shako with two leather roll buttons. The inner lining consists of a 5 cm high sheepskin, topped with a 7 cm ecru canvas band.

France.
First Empire.
Very good condition, usual wear on the chin strap, restored roll buttons.

NOTE:
A very similar shako with the same lace system at the front is a drum sample from the 15th Light Infantry Regiment from the former collections of Raoul and Jean Brunon, displayed at the Army Museum at Château de l'Emperi in Salons-de-Provence and featured in Christian Blondieau's book "Aigles et Shakos du Premier Empire," Argout Editions Paris 1980, figure 100, page 42.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The 17th Light Infantry Regiment was established in 1803 and disbanded on May 12, 1814. Between 1805 and 1807, it participated in the battles of Ulm, Hollabrunn, Austerlitz, Jena, and more. In 1809, it was deployed to the army in Portugal, then to the army in Spain in 1813, engaging in battles at La Coruña, Braga, Oporto, Bussaco, Sabugal, the Battle of Arapiles, and Victoria. During the German campaign in 1814, it fought at Wachau, Leipzig, and Hanau. In the same year, during the campaign in Spain, it was involved in battles at Vauchamps, Bar-sur-Aube, Arcis-sur-Aube, and Saint-Dizier.