Infantry officer's shako plate (?), Danish (c 1860)

Title	Infantry officer's shako plate (?)
Nationality	Danish
Period	c 1860
Price	£100.00

MAGNIFY

This is typical of what the Danish officers would have worn at the time of the war with Austria and Prussia in 1864 when these two attacked Denmark to secure Schleswig-Holstein to their respective countries. Denmark put up a very good fight considering that the odds were so unequal, but in the end had to yield.

I don't have any good books on Danish militaria, but, from experience of other contemporary European badges, I suspect this is a shako plate from its slight concavity. However, it could also have been a sabretache badge. I am also not quite sure about the arm of service.

The three crowned leopards on a field of hearts are the arms of Denmark.

The die-struck white metal plate (just over 8.5cm diameter), with gilding metal ornaments, is of three-piece construction. There are two brass screw posts on the reverse, which have been clipped short, as well as two old solder marks (north and south). The piece is in reasonable condition, apart from the absence of any fire gilding on the ornaments - it is priced accordingly.

Prov: from the J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd. Pattern Book Archive, sold at auction by order of the National Army Museum, London.

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

[Militaria : Badges : Danish : 19th Century]

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