Man's Uniform Chapeau Bras and Original Box
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
General Nathaniel Lyon
American, died 1861
RetailerSold by
H. V. Allien & Co.
American
MakerMade by
W. H. Horstmann & Sons
American
Date1861
MediumHat (.a): Hand-stitched fur-finished silk over cardboard, with silk lining and a silk grosgrain ribbon sweatband, gold bullion tassels, a silk moire cockade, gold lace, gold bullion, a gilt button, and osterich feathers.
Box (.b-c): Paper covered cardboard with a paper lining and cotton tape ties.
DimensionsComponent (hat .a: length front to back x height of leaves): 17 x 5 1/2in. (43.2 x 14cm)
Component (box top .b: length x width x depth): 19 1/2 x 6 1/4 x 1 1/4in. (49.5 x 15.9 x 3.2cm)
Component (box bottom .c: length x width x depth): 19 1/4 x 6 x 3in. (48.9 x 15.2 x 7.6cm)
Component (box top .b: length x width x depth): 19 1/2 x 6 1/4 x 1 1/4in. (49.5 x 15.9 x 3.2cm)
Component (box bottom .c: length x width x depth): 19 1/4 x 6 x 3in. (48.9 x 15.2 x 7.6cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the Connecticut State Legislature
DescriptionCivil War United States Infantry officer's chapeau bras. The hat is completely hand-stitched of fur-finished silk over cardboard. The crown of the hat has a sweatband of heavy black silk grosgrain ribbon. The crown is lined with light blue silk satin, and the top of the crown lining is stamped in gold with the maker's label (see Marks).
The hat is ornamented on both the front and rear point with a gold bullion tassel that is hinged in the middle so it can fold when the hat is closed up. The hat was made to be worn fore and aft, with the points front to back. The top edges of the leaves are ornamented with black osterich feathers. A series of small feathers extend from the front of the hat to the rear, flowing over the proper left side. The hat is ornamented on its proper right side with a circular cockade of black silk moire, over which is a strip of gold lace edged with gold bullion, upon which is a gilt eagle and shield and a gilt United States Army General Staff Officers button.
The two-piece box (.b-c) is shaped as a broad crescent, closely conforming to the shape of the hat. The box is made of cardboard, covered on the top cover and sides with a red embossed paper. The corners are gilt. The bottom of the box appears to be covered with plain blue paper. The box is lined wth a white paper printed with a blue checked or plaid pattern. The box was fastened by means of two red cotton tape ties. The ties are attached to the lower half of the box at the top of the curve of the crescent and at the bottom flat, which tied over the cover. The cover of the box is embossed with the retailer's name in gilt (see Marks). There appears to be a fragment of a small, red paper label near the top of the cover, stamped with the number "4".
The hat is ornamented on both the front and rear point with a gold bullion tassel that is hinged in the middle so it can fold when the hat is closed up. The hat was made to be worn fore and aft, with the points front to back. The top edges of the leaves are ornamented with black osterich feathers. A series of small feathers extend from the front of the hat to the rear, flowing over the proper left side. The hat is ornamented on its proper right side with a circular cockade of black silk moire, over which is a strip of gold lace edged with gold bullion, upon which is a gilt eagle and shield and a gilt United States Army General Staff Officers button.
The two-piece box (.b-c) is shaped as a broad crescent, closely conforming to the shape of the hat. The box is made of cardboard, covered on the top cover and sides with a red embossed paper. The corners are gilt. The bottom of the box appears to be covered with plain blue paper. The box is lined wth a white paper printed with a blue checked or plaid pattern. The box was fastened by means of two red cotton tape ties. The ties are attached to the lower half of the box at the top of the curve of the crescent and at the bottom flat, which tied over the cover. The cover of the box is embossed with the retailer's name in gilt (see Marks). There appears to be a fragment of a small, red paper label near the top of the cover, stamped with the number "4".
Object number1861.10.1a-c
MarkingsThe top of the crown lining is stamped in gold with, "HORSTMANN BROS. & ALLIEN/ [an eagle]/ 540 BROADWAY 540/ NEW YORK". The label printed on the top of the hat box is, "HENRY V. ALLIEN & CO./ 7 Bond Street 7/ NEW YORK".InscribedThe old accession number is written in ink directly onto the cover of the box.Subject Terms
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