Italy, Kingdom. A 1st Bersaglieri Regiment Moretto Hat

The domed portion on the exterior is in pressed black felt, with the sidewalls of the dome and the adjoining upper of the stiff brim in a black oilcloth, the underside of the brim in black pressed felt. Stitched in place to the edge of the brim is a narrow strip of black leather trim that travels around the circumference of the hat. There are black painted metal eyelets placed on either side of the crown for ventilation. The front has a 1st Bersaglieri Regiment insignia in die-stamped brass and bears the faint number "1", with traces of the black paint forming the number remaining, the insignia mounted to a tri-colour rosette and secured in place via four intact prongs. There is a black leather patch stitched in place between the two eyelets on the right side, the patch housing a black capercaillie multiple-feather plume (the capercaillie a member of the grouse family), a very distinctive feature of a Bersaglieri Regiment. The interior of the dome is lined in pressed black felt, with a 60 mm wide black leather sweatband stitched in place. Between the eyelets on both sides is a protruding strap that houses a rectangular brass loop, with a chin strap joined to the two loops, the upper of the chinstrap in black patent leather, with a raw brown underside. The hat measures 325 mm in width x 348 mm in depth x 120 mm in height, exhibiting light wear on the black pressed felt on the exterior, slight undulation of the oilcloth on the brim, crazing and wear on the upper of the patent leather chinstrap, along with the aforementioned paint loss on the number "1" on the insignia. Very fine.