Civil War U.S. Ordnance Officer’s Dress Epaulettes in Original Jappaned Tin Case

Civil War U.S. Ordnance Officer’s Dress Epaulettes in Original Jappaned Tin Case – We have had many Civil War officers’ dress epaulettes, although this is the first pair of Ordnance officer dress epaulettes that we have had or seen. This set, still housed in its original, jappaned, tin case that retains its period, red velvet lining, is embellished by gold bullion edging around the rectangular shoulder areas and gilded brass crescents at either end; coiled, gold bullion wire drops hang below each of these crescents. At each far end of the epaulettes is a rare, Civil War period, Ordnance officer cuff button; at the wider end, inside of each crescent, is a silver bullion, Ordnance bomb insignia – one of these bombs remains in very good condition, while the other has some very noticeable bullion loss. The underside of each epaulette is covered with a fine grade of yellow silk, overlaying cotton padding; the shanks of each Ordnance cuff button is visible. As mentioned, the interior of the tin case is lined in red velvet, which remains in excellent condition. Additionally, the padded, red velvet retaining device is also present – it is hinged and can be opened to retrieve the epaulettes, when they were needed for wear by an officer. Mounted inside the interior, bottom of the case is a red velvet covered, jappaned compartment, now empty, for an officer to place any additional insignia. The exterior of the case retains about 50% of its original jappaning and has what appears to be an old paper label, which is now unreadable. These cased epaulettes are a rarely encountered set and were worn by an officer in a most important branch of the Federal army, either during or just prior to the Civil War.