[MILITIA]. Fully-trimmed militia dragoon shako with original box. Manufactured by Joseph T. Bell, New York, ca 1840. 

Visor to crown 7 3/4 in. black lacquered shako with silver-plated visor and crown rim with silver bullion braided cord with 2 tassels draped from ring attachments to crown rim, leather sweatband and polished cotton lining (tarnish to silver, cracking to leather); Height 6 1/4 in. white ostrich feather plume with 3 in. height silverplate "grenade" holder with a spread-wing eagle with superimposed shield and star (bamboo stick added to reinforce holder; some tarnish and discoloration to silver); 1 3/4 in. diameter leather sunburst pompon ornamentation with 15 mm brass button with eagle and "1" (some loss to leather; button tarnished); 2 1/2 x 2 7/8 in. 1833 pattern die-struck silver plate eagle cap plate on 5 1/4 x 5 in. 8-pointed sunburst/star plate (some tarnish and darkening). Paper label affixed to interior crown: "Joseph T. Bell. / Manufacturer of / Military Caps and Belts, / Saddle Cloths, / Holsters, Bridles, / &c. &c. &c. &c. / Wholesale and Retail, / No. [186 Fu]lton street, opposite St. Paul's Church, / New York." 

[With:] 10 1/4 x 11 in. original hatbox covered with stamp-decorated paper and lined with newsprint from the New-York Evangelist (some soiling, separation inside). The lid features a large printed label featuring a vignette by E. W. Clay of nine military men and a horse in elaborate uniforms and hats with the text: "Joseph T. Bell / Manufacturer / 186 Fulton Street N.Y." Interior newsprint includes articles reporting on lectures given in July 1840, suggesting an approximate date for the box and shako.

Provenance: Previously sold as Lot 20 at Skinner, Historic Arms & Militaria, 27 April 2018. 


The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann