Mystery 19th Century Oil Cloth Shako

[Maple Creek]

Here are photographs of a shako that my father bought in an antique shop in France in the late 1970's. According to the seller, it is supposed to be a Napolionic era shako. We appreciate, however, that it could be almost anything (theatrical piece, Romanian constable, who knows?) and we've never been able to definatively identify the piece. I found illustrations of French infantry and cavalry troops wearing somewhat similar shakos in the 1850's and 1860's. I also found one illustration of German troops wearing something similar in the same period.

The oil cloth is clearly old and shows honest aging. The core is made of cardboard which may be period, or may be a relatively modern replacement of the original core. (Was cardboard used in the mid-19th century?) Holes on the sides of the shako indicate that it once had a chin strap. I can't decipher the writing inside the helmet. German Landwehr has been suggested, but I haven't been able to find examples that resemble this piece.

Any ideas?

[Maple Creek]

interior

interior

[Finnishlion178]

I want to say Prussian Landwehr from the Napoleonic War but it could be Landwehr from the Franco- Prussian War.

[Robin Lumsden]

Here is a theatre prop from the early 1900s.........a copy of a mid-19th century Leibhusar shako.

[Robin Lumsden]

A similar theatre prop being worn at a 'carnival', or similar.........

[Finnishlion178]

I don't think that is the same shako but they do look alike. The front end of his shako is even with the top as for the other one. Part of the shako is higher than the other one.

[Maple Creek]

Leibhusars?

Interestingly similar costume items...

Robin's theater prop is about the closest match that I've seen so far. Maybe I wasn't far off in guessing "theater prop." Does anybody know what the real Leibhusar shakos look like? Is the theater prop a good facsimile, or is it more of a fantasy item inspired by an authentic piece of military headgear? I don't recall having seen one and there's nothing like it in any of the reference books in my father's library.

Also, was cardboard used in the construction of any mid 19th century shakos? This is one element of this item that suggested "theater prop" to me.

Cheers,

[Leibhusar]

A similar theatre prop being worn at a 'carnival', or similar.........

Nice picture

[Robin Lumsden]

Interestingly similar costume items...

Robin's theater prop is about the closest match that I've seen so far. Maybe I wasn't far off in guessing "theater prop." Does anybody know what the real Leibhusar shakos look like? Is the theater prop a good facsimile, or is it more of a fantasy item inspired by an authentic piece of military headgear? I don't recall having seen one and there's nothing like it in any of the reference books in my father's library.

Also, was cardboard used in the construction of any mid 19th century shakos? This is one element of this item that suggested "theater prop" to me.

Cheers,

Mark.
These early theatre props were VERY good facsimiles of the real thing.
Here's another prop from about 1900.......this time of a mirliton as worn by the 'Total Death' hussars c. 1750.

[Brian Calkins]

Use of cardboard

I suppose that this doesn't really help, but I can tell you that cardboard was extensively used prior to and during WWI to stiffen certain caps. For example, Russian cap bands and Austrian dress kepis.
Brian

[Maple Creek]

cardboard

Brian, If cardboard was used on military headgear during WWI, maybe it was used earlier as well. Maybe somebody else in the forum know of examples...

Robin, I've enjoyed seeing your theater props. It's a very interesting collector's niche! So, are you saying that your Leibhussar shako is a good facsimile of the real thing? The 19th century trend in German headgear was generally from large to smaller versions, so maybe ours is a later version.

By the way, what is a "Leib" hussar?

[Finnishlion178]

I don't think his shako is that. I think it is landwehr. I found this auction ebay that may help. http://cgi.ebay.de/Wartenburg-Genera...QQcmdZViewItem

[Robin Lumsden]

Robin, I've enjoyed seeing your theater props. It's a very interesting collector's niche! So, are you saying that your Leibhussar shako is a good facsimile of the real thing? The 19th century trend in German headgear was generally from large to smaller versions, so maybe ours is a later version.
By the way, what is a "Leib" hussar?

The theatre props aren't mine. They were sold by Hermann Historica earlier this year.

The Leibhusaren were the royal bodyguard hussar regiments. Sort of 'Life Guards'.

[Robin Lumsden]

Here are theatre props being worn by youngsters in a stage production.......probably about 1900.

[Maple Creek]

Cool

Here are theatre props being worn by youngsters in a stage production.......probably about 1900.

I love these old props. I imagine they used some original parts. Interesting...