Us Army Chapeau-Bras Bicorn Cap Henderson Ames

Now this is a fantastic piece of history that dates back to the post Civil War era. A Chapeau-Bras, which translates literally to “hat arm”, is a bicorne hat that is designed to be compressed and carried under the arm, formerly worn on dress occasions by men in the 18th Century, and later in the United States Army by General and Staff Officers. These caps were intended as a Dress Hat, and not too many survived the ages due to their fragile nature. The hat features a gilt cockade with a metal spread wing federal eagle. These Caps were universal, with the only distinction being the branch of service button affixed to the cockade on the right side of the cap or the insignia much like this one, which is the standard New York “Excelsior” crest. The interior is lined with black silk lining and l...