87th Foot native servant's SBP, Irish (mid-19th century)

Title	87th Foot native servant's SBP
Nationality	Irish
Period	mid-19th century

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87th Foot is the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers and was stationed in India on various occasions in the 19th century. Battle honours are China and Barrosa (1860 and Peninsula war), so this cannot be dated much later than 1883 when the new honour for Egypt was granted. The regimental war cry was Faugh-a-Ballagh.

Sized 3" x 2.25", in unmarked silver, with the original dark green (see bottom photo for original fabric colour) wool (or felt?) cloth backing. Possibly made in Britain, as the quality of the workmanship seems, on reflection, too high for bazaar work, especially the configuration of the back of the piece, which suggests a lost wax casting, a process they would not have used in the local bazaar.

This shoulder belt plate is an extremely rare survivor from the Raj - when the regiments went home, most of these ended up in the melting pots of the local bazaar, especially in the Mutiny period.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.

[Belt Buckles : Irish : 19th Century]

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