Kepi of Maréchal Joffre, 1916, WWI.

Kepi of Maréchal Joffre, 1916, WWI.
Madder-coloured cloth with gold braids ; black cloth band entirely bullion embroidered with oak leaves . Black oiled and patent leather peak. Black silk lining with gold printed maker’s brand representing his (the maker’s) coat of arms with the motto ‘Légèreté Solidité Elégance à Paris’. Ochre leather headband. Total height with peak : 10.5 cm. Height of black band : 6.2 cm. Height of madder-coloured cloth : 3.5 cm.
Very good condition (a few repairs on madder-coloured cloth ; headband showing use).
Former Monsieur Colas (from Lyon) collection. Sold at Hôtel Drouot, room 14, on 7th and 8th July 1947, lot n° 102 of the catalogue, for 5000 francs of the time to Monsieur Dubur. This kepi is indeed genuine by a note signed by the wife of Maréchal Joffre dated 31st May 1943. The kepi is sold with the 1947 receipt, a visiting card of the maréchal’s wife dated 26th May 1943 where she set an appointment to Monsieur Colas, and various other documents and photographs of Maréchal Joffre.
Joseph-Jacques-Césaire Joffre (1852-1931) was born in a modest family in Rivesaltes in the Pyrenees. He entered the Ecole Polytechnique in 1869. He served overseas : against China in 1885, Indochina, Sudan, Madagascar. He was appointed Brigadier in 1901.
When WWI broke out, he was commander in chief of the armies of the north and the north-east. He won the battle of the Marne, which put an end to the German advance. He was nicknamed ‘le vainqueur de la Marne’ (the Marne winner).
On 26th December 1916, he got the title of Maréchal de France. Then, the new commander in chief was Général Nivelle.
After the war, he went to America and Japan on diplomatic missions.
He was elected at the Académie française.
He died in 1931.