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#1 |
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Here's an interesting little chap.
He's exactly 3-1/2 inches tall, made of brass and rather 'like' a little candlestick. Anyway, reason he caught my eye is he's wearing a 'military' style harness, has a collar with shield at his throat and is carrying a shield with a 'light infantry' bugle on it. He has been polished about a million times and is quite rubbed. I have to say when I saw him I thought 'early to mid 19th C regimental souvenir........... or chess piece'! Any help appreciated. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#2 |
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No opinions?
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#3 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Not a chess piece, with that square base
![]() And, Gene, he's ugly ![]() ... Just kidding, old chap ![]() |
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#4 |
Arms Historian
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powder horn symbolic of flank companies...infantry crossbelt harness
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#5 | |
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#6 | |
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![]() They are the symbol used by light infantry companies here. In fact the local regiment to me (A rifles regiment) in Exeter has one as its badge. So come on Jim, you love a mystery, what do you conclude? |
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#7 | |
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Oh man! I really walked right into that gauntlet!!! ![]() I used to subscribe to the National Army Museum group years ago (when I collected British regulation swords), and the annual publication often presented the most unusual things that had become acquisitions. They are phenomenal at thier knowledge of this kind of regimental esoterica. I had forgotten about the M1803 Light Company officers sabre motif being a strung horn bugle, and was thinking of the powder horns the troopers also used for their muskets. Apparantly the bugle horn had replaced the drum in communication for these widely dispersed units, and then became the symbol. It seems the bear is simply wearing the crossbelt harness with the horn, and without resources to the huge corpus of material on traditions and symbols of the British units ( for some reason this seems British) it is really hard to guess. During the Crimean War the Russians were symbolized by the bear, but it would seem something more symbolic uniform wise would be present. Weren't the shakos of the guards made of bearskin, and those of the Scots Greys? Thats about all I can come up with for now.....as always, maybe the experts out there reading might know something........the gauntlet goes now to the lurkers!!! ![]() All the best, Jim Addendum: was just thinking, this looks like a trophy type base, could it be some kind of gag 'award' used in the uh, regimental tomfoolery? Last edited by Jim McDougall; 13th August 2010 at 05:07 AM. |
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#8 |
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Hi,
The 'shield' at the throat could perhaps represent a gorget, Gene you may have to salute this little bear as you pass him by. ![]() Regards, Norman. P.S. Gorgets were discontinued in the British Army in the second quarter of the 19thC so potentially he could be quite an old bear. |
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#9 |
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Jim, Norman
Thank you gentlemen. My initial impression, as I said above was early to mid 19thC, hopefully some kind of commemorative piece from the Napoleonic wars. But I can't think of the connection for the bear? Bearskin hats of course, but a bear in 'uniform'? Unless he represented a particular action or a regimental mascot? These obscure pieces can be a frustrating search! Last edited by Atlantia; 14th August 2010 at 09:35 AM. |
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#10 |
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Thats a good idea about our non-registered readers Jim.
If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to drop me an email to: gimmieitbaby@aol.com |
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#11 | |
Arms Historian
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There is so much history in even the simplest items in so many cases, and like the weapons, even these associated pieces have stories to tell. Thank you for joining me in the invitation. All the best, Jim |
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