November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
A rare enlisted soldier's uniform coat or "Habit" of the elite 2nd Regiment of Swiss Infantry in French Army service, exhibiting some of the changes introduced in the 1820s during the Restoration period of the Bourbon Monarchy. Protestant Swiss regiments in French service had traditionally worn red uniforms since the early 18th century. The single-breasted coat body is of madder red broadcloth, with medium blue facings and edging of broadcloth. The left breast panel of the coat has 9 worked buttonholes and is edged with blue piping, the right panel originally had 9 corresponding buttons, of which only 3 remain, each being a one-piece, die-stamped, brass buttons of slightly convex form, 1" in diameter. The 2-3/4" high, standing cape or collar is a medium blue cloth with red edging and is closed in front with three pairs of hooks and eyes. Measuring from the bottom of the cape at backseam, the body is 32" long, 16" or a half-measure being the length of the tails or skirts. The skirt turnbacks are trimmed with blue piping as are the false "long" pocket flaps on the skirts; 1 of the original 3 buttons is missing on each pocket; the hips of the coats are trimmed with 2 additional large '2' buttons. The coat is lined in the upper body and sleeves with a coarse, natural brown linen which bears period markings, consisting of a crowned coat of arms stamped in black paint over the numbers "33. 34", the latter of which seem to correlate with the waist and breast measures of the coat. To the upper left of the stamped markings is the word 'PARIS' written in ink that is now brownish. The skirts are lined in a dull pinkish-mauve, woolen cloth. There are period repairs to the coat's obvious wear points, with piecing-in of cloth on the right breast near armhole, and on both lower sleeves and at the right elbow. One small regimental button of 5/8 inch diameter remains on the right cuff at its slit opening on the underseam. CONDITION: Less the period alterations and the missing buttons noted, there has been some recent conservation, including restoration of the blue cuffs and patching of a few small wear holes on each side of the collar. Otherwise, the coat is in relatively supple and highly presentable condition. JLK