December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
In 1816, officers of the U.S. Regiment of Light Artillery received official sanction to wear gold embroidered wings on their uniform coats, something that had apparently already ongoing in practice; in 1817, the Rifle Regiment officers also began to wear gold embroidered wings, which continued in force until both regiments were disbanded in 1819. That same year, new general regulations authorized the wearing of embroidered wings by all company officers in artillery and infantry regiment, gold and silver respectively. The fine pair of wings closely matches that observed in extant U.S. Army officer portraits from this period. The wings have dark blue cloth grounds, upon which are embroidered laurel leaves within the border, with 2 3/8 inch-long bullion fringe. The underside are yellow silk, over pressboard reinforcements. CONDITION: Very good, the uppers almost new in appearance, but the silk on the revers is shattered in spots.