Giberne And Banner Of The 1st Company Of Musketeers From The King's Military Household 1814

GIBERNE AND BANDEROLE OF THE 1st COMPANY OF MUSKETEERS OF THE KING'S MILITARY HOUSE (Grey Musketeers), Restoration (1814-1816). 30034 Giberne in wood and leather covered with red morocco. Box 19.9 cm long at the bottom and 18.5 cm at the top, H 8.2 cm and width 4.6 cm; curved shape; behind the box and at the top are two loops in red morocco into which the two ends of the banner engage. The box also in red morocco is stitched with white silk at the seams. Under the box are three copper buttons, the one in the middle to fix the tab, and the others to attach the ends of the banner. At the back the loop is fixed to the box by a nail on each side and sewn in its middle. The interior of the box is made of wood, divided into two boxes. The pattelet (width at the top 20.2 cm, at the bottom 20.8 cm, H in the center 13 cm) is bordered by a braid divided into three parts embroidered in silver thread, with a total width of 12 mm (two threads framing a rod). In the center of which is fixed the distinctive cross in stamped brass reinforced with tin and overgilded, with the center in silver-plated copper. This emblem measures 8.2 cm in diameter, the central part of the cross is 4.3 cm high and wide. The bottom of the pattelet has rounded corners and the middle is pointed; at each of its four corners is fixed a gold fleur-de-lis the point is turned inwards. The fleurs-de-lis are in stamped brass reinforced with tin and overgilded, their height is 2.7 cm, their width 2.2 cm. Red morocco banner covered on one side with gold braid, width 6 cm; it is finished at the bottom with two tabs that button below the box. Very good condition, the trimmings of the box and the braid of the banner are slightly oxidized. France. Restoration (1814-1816). NOTE If the cartridge box of the gray Musketeers is particularly spectacular, the banner remains very simple. However, it is an element of this equipment of the highest rarity of which we personally know only two or three examples in the world. VARIANTS There is a manufacturing variant. The collections of the Army Museum have two variants that do not seem to have any specific justification. The only attribution that can be put forward may be that of cartridge pouches for extra musketeers or simply a first manufacturing test intended to be presented before final adoption. The first variant differs from the regulatory model only by the position of the four fleurs-de-lys at the corners of the flap; on this piece, they are turned outwards, not inwards. The second variant has an outer border decorated not with embroidered braid but with a hot-stamped decoration with a gilded iron. HISTORY Reestablished by order of June 15, 1814, the two companies of Musketeers were attached to the protection of the King. Their existence was interrupted by the return of Napoleon to power. The second Restoration, forced by budgetary restrictions, separated from the red companies in 1816. The low numbers of the Musketeers would hardly exceed 200 men per company. Despite this reduced number, a certain number of objects have reached us. While cartridge pouches from the first company remain difficult to find, they are much less rare than the second company models.