US WAR OF 1812 NEW YORK OFFICER CHAPEAU DE BRAS WITH PARTIAL BOX

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022

A scarce War of 1812 era officer's bicorne hat or chapeau de bras. Black beaver, now oxidized slightly toward brown, hat with bound edge and V-shaped braided cord on the front leading down to a silvered eagle on globe over "Excelsior" button with lined field. Black feather plume present, but loose. One side of its original pasteboard box is present with full label reading, "TRUNKS AND BAND BOXES MADE AND SOLD AT JOSEPH PIGGOT'S Upholstery Store / No. 64 DIVISION STREET/ NEW YORK, / Wholesale and Retail." CONDITION: Very good. Wear and losses to the edge binding front and back, but blending well with the hat body. Stonger black to the braid and plume. Sweatband in place, with minor losses along lower edge. Black silk lining in place with some tears and losses. Hat body is very solid and displayable. Top center front has a small hole, likely for affixing a missing badge, the reverse with sewn thin leather stiffener to support it. For the identical label in a similar box broadly dated 1810-1820, see NY Hist. 1952.325bc. The bicorne tends to come in in the 1790s.