This is a scarce piece of Civil War embroidered bullion insignia- the heavy weight U.S eagle that could found on the corners of an officer’s saddle cloth or “shabraque,” part of any well-appointed, high-ranking mounted officer’s horse furniture. This measures 3-1/2” by 3-1/2” and shows an eagle with United States shield on its chest, and clutching arrows and olive branch, all intricately embroidered with gilt coiled, twisted, and beaded wire and sequins on a dark blue ground that is then padded and quilted to withstand rough treatment. We note that even the upper edges of the wings were given shading by the use of narrow vertical coils to contrast with the broader, flat sequins below.

These eagles would then be separately attached to the saddle-cloth, if desired by the purchaser, which was worn over the saddle itself, but slotted for the stirrup straps. We show a photo Sherman showing off his set-up, his saddle cloth having a double border and two general’s stars added over the eagle. We also show illustrations from the Schuyler, Hartley and Graham catalog picturing not only officers’s horsegear, but one of these eagles in their “embroidered ornaments” category.

This is solid, complete and rates very good for condition, with all the bullion and sequins in place, just three or four small, short sections where the central thread of a bullion strand shows or the strand is pushed slightly to one side, but no significant losses, fraying or bare spots. The gilt finish is slightly muted by age, stronger on the sequins, more mellow on the braid, with light green verdigris showing in the interstices.

These are scarce and this one, formerly in the collections of the Texas Civil War Museum,  merits a place in any collection of US bullion insignia.  [sr] [ph:L]

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