Netherlands, Kingdom. An Infantry Kepi,c.1940

(Infanterie Kepie). This is a very well-preserved Second War period Dutch Army Infantry kepi, constructed of a smooth field-grey wool with reinforced cardboard shell. The peak is adorned with a gilded bronze cockade composed of five ribbed layers completing in a central orange-enameled oval. The cockade is held in place at the top by a hook that is fastened into the liner of the kepi, and at the bottom by a bronze button depicting a raised Dutch national lion rampant. The kepi is flanked by bronze buttons with identical lion rampant designs, holding in place a brown leather chinstrap, complete with magnetic metal buckle, which rests upon the visor when not in use. The visor itself is constructed of lacquered vulcanfibre, painted forest green on the obverse. There are double bands of woven blue piping ringing the lower circumference of the kepi, indicating that the wearer was part of the Dutch Army Infantry. The kepi bears dual ventilation holes on the right and left sides, each fitted with a screen and fastened into the interior liner with a magnetic metal butterfly-style clip. The interior has a 26 mm-wide brown leather sweatband securely stitched into the lining. The interior is completed by a gold-coloured rayon liner, the top of which is clearly stamped “N.V. KLEEDING MAGAZIJN VOORWARTS” (“CLOTHING WAREHOUSE”), topped by a Dutch royal crown and flanked by Dutch national lions rampant. The interior also features a handwritten inscription of the family name “Hugenholtz”. The kepi measures approximately 175 mm (w) x 237 mm (l) x 135 mm (h). There are sporadic patches of mothing to the exterior, but the kepi presents in an otherwise near extremely fine condition.