54th Foot Officer’s Albert Pattern Shako Plate

A superb and rare, silver and gilt, Albert pattern shako plate for an officer of The 54th Foot (West Norfolk, later 2nd battalion of The Dorsetshire Regiment) with two horizontal lug fastenings (east and west). Worn circa 1844-55. As KK98.

Note: Kipling & King, Head-dress Badges of The British Army Volume 1, shows a similar plate but the Marabout honour is on a scroll beneath the crown while the Ava honour is on a scroll above the sphinx.

The usual four wires behind the crown (two east and two west) are missing. There are a couple of minor knicks to the backplate and the bottom point of the star has taken a couple of knocks.

Code: 59780