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This field covers uniforms, headdress and badges from the 18th century through to Third Reich items from the 20th century. Much of this material can be seen in context in contemporary prints/drawings and other art work, eg bronzes and photographs. I keep a very sharp eye out for, and a photographic record of, all the particularly convincing Third Reich fakes that come my way. Good reference books include: The Emperor's Coat by Rest, Ortner & Ilming (Verlag Militaria) on Austro-Hungarian militaria, Great War period; Shoulder-belt plates and buttons by Parkyn on British militaria; two volumes by King on British military headdress badges. The National Army Museum (Royal Hospital Road, London SW3) has an excellent bookshop and display covering the British side of this great subject.
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Cap badge - Thai
This is clearly a European made badge (8cm tip of spear to bottom); in view of the provenance (see below), almost certainly by Gaunt's of London. The crossed rifles would appear to represent a pair of Martini-Henrys, so it's no surprise that, if they were buying Martinis from the British, their military badges were being made in London as well.
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Cap badge - Thai
Clearly European made, this badge (8cm tip of spear to bottom) is almost certainly by Gaunt's of London, in view of the provenance (see below). The crossed rifles would appear to represent a pair of Martini-Henrys, so it's no surprise that, if they were buying Martinis from the British, their military badges were being made in London as well.
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Martingale badge - Unknown
This badge could be French or Dutch/Boer, because of the design, but there's an outside chance that it could be a US piece from the Civil War. These badges were worn on the breast of the horse in an arrangement which helped keep the saddle in place. The crossed cannons and the flaming bomb denote artillery usage.
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Sapeurs Pompiers de la Marine helmet plate - French
This has to be one of the rarest of the 2nd Empire military fire brigade badges, being the helmet plate for the navy branch. The helmet was a magnificent looking creation in brass with a high comb and fancy chin scales. This would have been worn on the front of the helmet, above the peak and below the crest.
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Officer's lambskin kiver eagle - Russian
This is the badge (5.5cm across) introduced in 1882 and worn untill the abdication of the Tsar in 1917 in all line infantry and rifle regiments on a low crowned lambswool kiver. The other ranks version would have been a more robust product in die-struck gilding metal; this has a gilt finish.
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Cavalry officer's helmet plate - Swedish
This would have been mounted on a bright metal cuirassier pattern helmet, modelled on a Prussian example. They were in use with the Swedish army from about 1860. This particular example (about 11 x 11cm) has a nice fire gilt finish and would appear to be a cast, as opposed to die-struck, production.
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Officer's shako plate - Peruvian
This would have been worn on one of the early Peruvian shakos in the late 1820s to commemorate the surrender of the Spaniards and the liberation of Peru in 1824 and the founding of the independent state of Peru in the following year. It probably represents the third infantry regiment.
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Infantry chasseur officer's gorget - French
This is the classic French gorget, the shape inherited from the old Napoleonic examples, which usually carried the eagle. With the Bourbon restoration in 1815, the lilies replaced the eagle. Under Napoleon III, a silver Napoleonic eagle replaced the lilies in 1854. The hunting horn indicates a light infantry unit / chasseurs.
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Officer's gorget - Belgian
I think this is the early gorget from the start of Belgium as an independent kingdom in 1831. Gorgets were worn round the neck as the last vestige of armour and an indication of officer rank. They were worn in the Belgian army throughout most of the 19th century, normally only by infantry. Cavalry did not wear these, for instance.
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Chasseur a Cheval of the Guard officer's cartouche plate - French
This attribution is based on the central device, which was carried on the sabretache and the cartouche plates of the officers of this unit. The Chasseur a Cheval were Napoleon III's personal escort, in the style of his illustrious uncle. However, this badge was also worn by the cuirassier and dragoon units of the Imperial Guard.
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