Coldstream Guards (?) - A Beauty

[Luke H]

Normally I don’t discuss or link live eBay auctions, however, at £470 already and still with 1 day and 1 hour left to run I don’t think flagging this one will rain on any hopeful bidders parade as it’s certainly no sleeper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154702020...EAAOSwNuthkk5h

An exquisite item. From the fixings and finish I’d guess it’s a very fine officer’s Pouch Belt Plate or similar.

Can someone please confirm what it is and also offer a date?

From the bids and price I wonder it may be earlier than I originally thought.

Edit: there may be the hint of an apostrophe after Mal so could it be an early Life Guards or Royal Horse Guards?

[Mike H]

Ive noticed this too,nice item.
Does look as if some of the blue enamel maybe missing but not 100% sure.

[grenadierguardsman]

Ive seen this also, but thought the quality was crap ?
Andy

[Luke H]

I’m surprised at that assessment Andy. I’d agree the workmanship definitely looks better from the front than the reverse however and like Mike H says I think it has seen better days having lost a couple bits of blue enamel and the gilding is somewhat faded and worn.

The stippling effect on the rays is particularly pleasing and a lot of work I suspect. Certainly not a cheap piece to make in it’s day and done to a high finish in my opinion.

Do you have any idea of the date or what it was worn on?

[grenadierguardsman]

No Luke no idea on date.
Andy

[Hawthorn]

I find the construction of the rays of the Star are very different from those I have seen on both Colour belt plates and Officers Stars. They have been made with ornate and distinct gaps between each one and not as a raised part of a solid which appears to be the norm. Will try to find some images of Garter Stars from the Victorian era to see if the construction of the rays is similar.

Simon.

[Deejayuu]

Luke,
fantastic badge. Do not know where it was worn but with the lugs, i would suspect a pouch badge. Form of construction is very much hand worked and i would suspect it comes from possibly the Regency Shako period (1816-1829) where the majority of badge in K&K are hand finished similar to this badge though there are examples of hand finished badges up to 1844 but fewer in number. This is not based on knowledge on my part, just an analysis of the images in K&K and reference to 2 badges i have from this period. I have an example of KK39 from this period and the hand fretting of the letters is done in exactly the same way. I also possess a 1st North York militia officers of similar construction from this period.

[Luke H]

Thanks all.

Really very interesting to hear you say it’s that early Dave. On pure guts and guesswork I was feeling it might be 1850s, so that you feel it’s potentially as early as Regency period based on its construction was unexpected.

Well it finished at £520 which if it is a Regency badge I would think is a screaming bargain.

Wonder if there is something similar on display or hidden in The Guards Museum.

[cbuehler]

It is a fine badge, whatever it is. It is certainly not Regency in my opinion. I am no expert, but I have some familiarity with antiques and insignia from this period, and the construction is like nothing I have seen.
Also, is it definitely Coldstream Guards?

CB

[grenadierguardsman]

I'd expect better quality if Regency period.
Andy