Lot 264
The full-dress shoulder-belt of a French Vice-Admiral, or of a Général-de-Division, c.1800
Auction: 26 March 2003 at 11:00 GMT
Description
scarlet cloth, embroidered with gold wire with Zeus's thunderbolts and with floral decorations, mounted with gilded-copper devices depicting the head and forepaws of the Nemean Lion affronté and a profile representation of a cockerel's head and fitted with an ormolu tip; lined with black silk
3" (7.5cm) wide
Footnote
In 1792 French admirals were ordered to dress exactly like their military equivalents in rank; in 1798 shoulder-belts, baudriers, of this pattern were ordered to be worn in full dress by généraux-de-divisions. There is no record of Milne having captured a French officer of this rank between 1798 and 1802 but it is believed that the frigate La Vengeance, which his ship captured in 1800, had on board several senior French officers: this belt may be a trophy from that action.