Shako Of The 119th Line Infantry Voltigeurs Regiment, Type 1812, First Empire.

SHAKO OF THE 119TH LINE INFANTRY VOLTIGEURS REGIMENT, type 1812, First Empire. 30240 Body in black felt, 19.5 cm high. Cap in very strong waxed cowhide, with a diameter of 24.5 cm folded over the felt at a height of 4 cm. At the bottom of the felt, is sewn a bourdalou in plain cowhide, 2.3 cm wide, with at the back a brass buckle and its pin also in brass, H of the buckle 2.6 cm, width 2.4 cm. Under this buckle, a simple calfskin gusset, to facilitate the playing of the bourdalou. A rounded visor in strong patent cowhide sewn to the front of the shako, width 6 cm. Plaque (or shield) affixed to the front, in stamped brass representing a crowned imperial eagle holding in its talons the spindle of Jupiter placed on a shield-shaped base whose center is stamped with a hunting horn and the number "119", the hunting horn is placed in the center of a circular motif identical to the design of the uniform buttons and framed by two lion heads with laurel branches and studded lower molding, H 12 cm, width 12 cm. Tricolor painted leather cockade placed above the plaque fixed to the barrel by means of a clasp on each side. Diameter 6.5 cm. White circle is outside, then red and blue in the center. Under the cockade, a gusset for the tuft, attached by a seam on the barrel. Chinstraps. On each side of the shako is placed a chin strap, composed of a double sheepskin strap, on which are mounted 15 brass scales cut alternately into two or three festoons, plus a fifteenth, circular in shape, at the end. The first scale is 3.5 cm wide, the second a little less and so decreasing until the last which is 1.9 cm. All these scales are each stopped by a flat iron wire. The chin strap is secured by a rosette, called in the 1812 regulations "large button" of the same metal as the chin strap, diameter 4 cm. It is struck in its center with a hunting horn. Each chin strap is finished with a canvas cord. Above the cockade, round green wool pompom, diameter 7 cm. Inner headdress in black sheepskin 6 cm high, topped with a large ecru canvas. France. First Empire. Good condition, some moth holes in the felt, the part of the cap folded over the barrel has on each side the holes that were originally used to attach a racket cord, inner cap worn with some accidents to the leather part and some losses and repairs to the canvas. HISTORY: The 119th Infantry Regiment (119e RI) is an infantry regiment of the French Army created by the First Consul from two provisional regiments of the Spanish Army by decree of July 7, 1808: the 13th and 14th Provisional Infantry Regiments, created on January 12, 1808 for the Spanish Civil War. He was discharged in Bayonne in 1814. From 1808 to 1813, he was posted to Spain where he was engaged in the battles of Medina del Rio Seco, Burgos, Saragossa, Santander in 1809, Quintanilla in 1811, Salamanca in 1812, Vittoria and La Bidasoa in 1813. In 1814, he took part in the defense of Bayonne and the battles of Orthez and Toulouse.