Bicorne Hat with Gold Bullions -- date and country unkown | ||
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Posted 12 years ago
chemistmba
(1 item)
These have been passed down without much information. Had a relative on Pershings staff and the bayonette is WWI I think. The bicorne and bullions I have no ideas. He was in the Army and these clearly look to be Navy, but I don't think they are American or British
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Yes the bayonet is WWI, specifically a German model 1898/05 bayonet (1905 bayonet for the 1898 rifle) This was the current issue bayonet at the start of the war.
I'm not an expert on Japanese Navy stuff, but I recognised the insignia on the epaulets as Japanese, and found a very similar item on Worthpoint:
http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpimages/images/images1/1/1007/11/1_49b198fae31c5b6b1c5badf3417a2c33.jpg
The rosette looks French, but what do I know.
The worthpoint link seems dead, but here's another link. I can't say much about the bicorn, but the epaulets are definately Japanese
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/REL28465
The Japanese Navy comment could be a good lead. The bayonet probably came from one source (with a WWI helmit and gas mask), but the hat may have a different source. My father was in the US Navy during the Korean War and spent a lot of time in Japan. Maybe he picket it up there.
I've asked a few people about it and no results thus far. Is there any way you could provide a nice sharp image of the button on the hat?
According to my contacts, it is a Japanese Diplomat's hat.
;)
There's an article at this site on a Japanese diplomatic uniform:
http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2007/11/05/6787521.html
In the article mention is made of " paulonia (sic) leaves, the 'kiri mon' of the Imperial Household".
The 'daireifuku' uniform was worn by both the Civil Service, the Military, and the nobility of Japan on special occasions at court from 1871 until the early 1940s. All members of the Imperial household wore the uniform, and a contemporary postcard shows officials and stablemen wearing versions of it. The rank of the wearer is indicated by the number of petals on each of the gold sets of paulonia leaves, the 'kiri mon' of the Imperial Household, which are emblazoned over the jacket in gold braid, and also on the gold buttons.
The Government Seal of Japan, also called the Paulownia Seal ( kirimon) or Paulownia Flower Seal (tokamon), is a mon or a crest used by the Cabinet of Japan and the Government of Japan on official documents. One version is used as the official emblem of the office of the Prime Minister of Japan. It resembles a stylized paulownia flower with 5-7-5 leaves. It was the crest of the Toyotomi clan.
The go-shichi no kiri (literally in English Paulownia of 5-7), as it is alternatively called, represents the democratically elected representatives of the government as a contrast to the chrysanthemum of the Imperial Seal of Japan, which represents the Emperor of Japan, who is the symbol of the sovereignty of the state."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Seal_of_Japan
I was just thinking that the rosette could be the Rising Sun on the bicorne?
Wow Vetra, I'm impressed & at my age not many things do!