Officer’s Pelisse c1850

Two photos of the same exhibit at the regimental museum in Winchester, taken c1985 show the same style of gimp and Russia braid across the chest as the jacket. The gilt buttons are in five rows, the middle row being ball-shaped but not intended to fasten as can be seen by the way the loops form a sort of plait on the other side. The pelisse actually fastens with hidden hooks and eyes. The edging of black astrakan fur extends up the sleeve for a few inches, framed by gold lace and Russia braid. Field officers had two rows of lace. The view from the back shows not only the back seams covered by lace and braid, but ‘welts’ with fur surrounded like the cuffs. At the small of the back are two knobs covered by gold lace and further enhanced with half-ball buttons. The lines hanging down were used to secure the pelisse to the neck when slung on the left shoulder. But when the pelisse was worn as a jacket these necklines were wound around the fur collar, not as seen on this exhibit. This view from above allows us to see the trefoil decoration on the shoulder.

Regimental Details | Uniforms