28th Jun, 2023 12:00
Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria
402
A LATE 17TH OR EARLY 18TH CENTURY MILITARY OFFICER’S SASH
an extremely rare and fine sash of knotted crimson silk, approximately 9 ft long including the tassels.
The original purpose of sashes was for carrying a wounded officer off the battlefield. They were made by a crochet technique known as Sprang, which enabled them to stretch laterally but not lengthways.
18th Century portraits show officers wearing their sashes both around the waist (normally under the coat and over the waistcoat as prescribed in the 1768 Clothing Warrant) or over the shoulder. Portraits suggest that cavalry officers tended to wear them over the left shoulder while infantry officers wore them on the right shoulder. In many cases officers are depicted without a sash, indicating that this item was mainly reserved for active service.
Olympia Auctions gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Andrew Cormack with the cataloguing of this lot.
Sold for £1,400
an extremely rare and fine sash of knotted crimson silk, approximately 9 ft long including the tassels.
The original purpose of sashes was for carrying a wounded officer off the battlefield. They were made by a crochet technique known as Sprang, which enabled them to stretch laterally but not lengthways.
18th Century portraits show officers wearing their sashes both around the waist (normally under the coat and over the waistcoat as prescribed in the 1768 Clothing Warrant) or over the shoulder. Portraits suggest that cavalry officers tended to wear them over the left shoulder while infantry officers wore them on the right shoulder. In many cases officers are depicted without a sash, indicating that this item was mainly reserved for active service.
Olympia Auctions gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Andrew Cormack with the cataloguing of this lot.
Auction: Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria, 28th Jun, 2023
