A German Imperial Lieutenant's 501st Field Artillery TunicConsignment: 6

A German Imperial Lieutenant's 501st Field Artillery Tunic -  The tunic is fabricated from greenish-gray wool and is trimmed with black wool piping on the collar and the simulated French cuffs. It is adorned with silver bullion wire shoulder boards with black threaded highlights, in a diagonal pattern, each with individual gilt numbers forming the number "501" near the shoulder seam, a bronze gilt exploding bomb insignia above the numbers, the undersides of the boards in red wool and held in place by small metal buttons covered with a bronze gilt on the front, illustrating the Imperial crown. There is a triple hook and eye closure on the collar, ensuring a snug fit at the neckline, the underside of the collar incorporating a pistachio green rayon lining. The front has angled-entry pockets on either side at the hips, gray cotton lined, with the undersides of the flaps with the same pistachio green rayon lining as used on the collar. The front is completed by a vertical row of eight metal buttons covered with a bronze gilt on the front, illustrating the Imperial crown on the right side, facing an equal number of reinforced button holes on the left side, each button marked "EXTRA FEIN" (Extra Fine) on the reverse, trimmed in red piping on both open sides of the tunic. The rear of the tunic has a single vented tail skirt, with scalloped straps on either side of the opening, again trimmed in red piping with three buttons, similar to those used on the front. The cuffs are fronted be two buttons of similar makeup and are held in place by single brown plastic buttons on their undersides. The inside is lined throughout in pistachio green rayon, with two pockets, one at hip level on the left side lined in white cotton, fastened shut via a brown plastic button, the other on the right breast lined in gray cotton. The latter pocket also exhibits a maker's label sewn on the inside, inscribed "CARL LIPPOLD, Braunschweig" (Brunswick), named to "Löhr", numbered "2234." and dated "Sept. 1917" (September 1917) in black ink handwritten script. There is a pistachio green rayon belt sewn in place at the waist on both sides, with black-painted, magnetic hardware, the right side buckle with a clip and the left side buckle with the receiving slot, allowing for a snug fit at the waistline. The sleeves are lined in white cotton, with thin rayon loops sewn in place in each armpit. All the buttons and seams appear to have their original stitching. The tunic measures 400 mm across the shoulders and 750 mm in length overall, exhibiting scattered light mothing and light gilt wear on some buttons. It continues to exhibit flawless quality workmanship, thanks to the superior fabrics employed, with intact stitching, maintaining its original period look and is very clean. Extremely fine. (C:6)