Austria-Hungary, Empire. An Artillery Officer’s Shako, by A. Zach

(Offizierstschako der Artillerie). An extremely well-preserved Austro-Hungarian Artillery Officer’s shako, constructed of a circular pressed black fabric casing. The crown presents flat and is lined with black boiled leather, stitched around the top with a secure seam. Stitched around the outer circumference of the crown are dual gold bullion wire tresses, bearing richly-detailed decorative designs, and trimmed with three machine-embroidered black wire bands. Pinned onto the peak of the cap is a gilded bronze insignia consisting of a detailed double-headed Austrian imperial eagle clutching a sword and sceptre. The eagle is overlaid by a central raised coat of arms of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and is topped by a crown bearing an outward hook. The shako is flanked on each side by a raised decorative lion’s head, both constructed of gilded bronze, with each lion clutching a suspension loop in its mouth. The loops connect to a decorative bronze chain link chinstrap, which bears a golden-yellow wool reverse liner. When not in use, the chinstrap folds up and secures to the hook emanating from the eagle insignia’s crown. A layer of black leather is affixed to the rim of the shako, held in place by rows of machine stitching, securely maintaining its structural integrity. The exterior features of the shako are completed by a protruding boiled black leather visor, the obverse of which bears a striking tresse constructed of rows of gold bullion wire. The interior features an intact brown leather sweatband measuring 45 mm in width. A complete blue cotton-blended liner with a high sheen fully encompasses the interior. An optional black leather chinstrap is stored within the crown by dual integrated bronze loops, as well as by a fabric loop, with the latter bearing a size label of “56 ½”. Additionally, a gilt maker’s mark of “A. ZACH”, circumscribed by German- and Hungarian-language quartermaster markers, appears mostly intact on the crown. The shako is accompanied by a plume constructed of black horsehair, securing to the shako with a bronze loop and bearing imperial cypher. It is also accompanied by its period original moisture guard, constructed of a black oil cloth outer shell with a golden-yellow cotton twill interior liner, and secured together by multiple rows of machine stitching. The shanko measures 180 mm (w) x 230 mm (l) x 135 mm (h) (not inclusive of moisture guard). Minor, age-appropriate material fatigue is evident, including some deterioration of the leather elements (including partial detachment of the sweatband), and some oxidation of the bronze features. The shako is in an overall near extremely fine condition.