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US ARMY OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH ORNAMENTS – CIVIL
WAR – MODEL 1904 – AID-DE-CAMP, ARTILLERY, CAVALRY,
ENGINEERS, MEDICAL, SIGNAL, SUBSISTENCE, QUARTERMASTER:
Worn on the lower rear corners on each side of the
officer’s saddle cloth, these distinctive saddle
ornaments were always a great point of pride among the
commissioned officer ranks and they continued in use
from the earliest days of the mounted service through
the final days of the US Army’s Horse Cavalry. Offered
here are several matched pairs of saddle cloth ornaments
from the different branches of the service, and include
one set that date from the Civil War which would have
been used through the balance of the 19th
Century, one set of Model 1904 Ornaments in gilt with
color enameled highlights for the dark blue wool dress
saddle cloth, as well as a nice selection of the subdued
Model 1904 Officer Saddle Cloth Ornaments worn on the
khaki service saddle cloth.
Fortunately, the Model 1904
Ornaments were well described and pictured in the
Ordnance Department Manual No. 1719, Horse Equipments
and Equipments for Officers and Enlisted Men, dated
1905. Featuring high relief details, the Model 1904
ornaments show the high quality of the early 20th
Century insignia and each piece is a substantial, well
made and carefully finished casting.
Saddle cloth ornaments of any kind, for any branch of
the service or department, are fairly scarce items, and
finding a matched pair loose on the market is
particularly rare, especially a set for the dress saddle
cloth. These sets will certainly dress up any officer’s
saddle cloth and provide a very unique finishing touch
to your saddle display, and with one of these sets as a
start, it would be worth the effort to find or even
recreate a saddle cloth to enhance your display. Each
of the sets are described below with accompanying
photographs and detailed measurements. |
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CIVIL WAR – INDIAN WAR
ARTILLERY OFFICER SADDLE CLOTH ORNAMENTS – PAIR:
Originally found some 20 plus years ago in a retired
general officer’s estate in San Antonio, Texas, this
matched pair of brass Artillery Officer’s saddle cloth
ornaments is the first pair of such early saddle cloth
ornaments that many advanced cavalry and horse equipment
collectors have seen on the loose. Much larger and
heavier than the later Model 1904 ornaments, this pair
was likely passed down to the general from a forebear’s
estate and are more in line with the type of ornament
used during the 19th Century. Each ornament
is in the pattern of the crossed cannons, measures on
the square 3.5" x 2", and has the cast-in stitching
loops. This matched pair show an overall nice, mellow
patina with no damage or wear, and would be appropriate
for the finest saddle cloth and truly be an added gem to
an officer’s saddle display. $375
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MODEL 1904 BRIGADIER GENERAL’S AID-DE-CAMP DRESS SADDLE
CLOTH ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR:
Intended for wear on the officer’s dress, dark blue wool
saddle cloth, this is a beautiful, like new, matched
pair of Model 1904 Officer’s Dress Saddle Cloth
Ornaments. Measuring 2 1/8” high and 1 ¼” wide, these
colorful insignia feature a gilt eagle surmounting a
federal shield with an enameled blue field inset with a
single silver star, and red enameled stripes alternating
with silver stripes. Both pieces of insignia are in
like new condition with no wear to or chips out of the
enamel and all four attachment loops on the reverse.
The gilt is very bright and these pieces appear to be
unissued. $225
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MODEL 1904 ENGINEER OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH METAL
ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR: Each of this pair of
subdued bronze Engineer Officer's Model 1904 Service
Saddle Cloth Ornaments measure 3” long and 2 ¼” high,
retain all of their original subdued finish in like new
condition, and each is complete with the six attachment
loops for sewing on to the saddle cloth. $150
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MODEL 1904 MEDICAL OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH METAL
ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR: Each of this pair of
subdued bronze Medical Officer's Model 1904 Service
Saddle Cloth Ornaments measure 3” wide and 2 ½” high,
retain all their original subdued finish, and each is
complete with the three attachment loops for sewing on
to the saddle cloth. $150
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MODEL 1904 SIGNAL OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH METAL
ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR: Each of this pair of
subdued bronze Signal Officer's Model 1904 Service
Saddle Cloth Ornaments featuring large crossed flags
surmounted by the flaming torch measure 3 ¼” wide and 2
½” high, retain all of their original subdued finish in
like new condition, and each is complete with the four
attachment loops for sewing on to the saddle
cloth. SOLD
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MODEL 1904 SUBSISTENCE OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH METAL
ORNAMENTS - PAIR: Each of this pair of subdued bronze Subsistence
Officer's Model 1904 Service Saddle Cloth Ornaments
measures 2" high and 1 ½” high and is
complete with the three attachment loops for sewing on
to the saddle cloth. One of the ornaments retains
all of the original subdued finish and the other has
some of the finish buffed away, likely by a piece of
equipment hanging alongside the saddle cloth. $100
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MODEL 1904 CAVALRY OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH METAL
ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR: This pair of subdued
bronze Cavalry Officer's Service Saddle Cloth Ornaments
are evidence of the individually of the officers’
equipments. As described in the last paragraph of page
22 of Ordnance Department Manual 1719, Horse Equipments
for Officers and Enlisted Men, May 10, 1905, officers of
the line in cavalry and infantry regiments were to
display only the number of their regiment on the lower
rear corner of the khaki canvas saddle cloth. Compared
to the elaborate insignia for the other branches and
departments, this single numeral apparently did not
satisfy the pride that cavalry officers had in their
branch of service. Likely available as a private
purchase item, this pair of cavalry officer ornaments,
as well made and as detailed as the other “official”
ornaments, measure 3 ½” long and 1 ¾” high, retain all
of their original subdued finish appearing never to have
been used, and each is complete with the five attachment
loops for sewing on to the saddle cloth.
SOLD
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MODEL 1904 QUARTERMASTER OFFICERS SADDLE CLOTH
METAL ORNAMENTS – MATCHED PAIR: Each of
this pair of subdued bronze Quartermaster Officer's
Model 1904 Service Saddle Cloth Ornaments measure 2 ¾”
wide and 2 ¼” high, retain all of their original subdued
finish in like new condition, and each is complete with
the four attachment loops for sewing on to the saddle
cloth. While the Quartermaster Department is
often regarded with less collector’s interest than the
combat branches of service, in the case of these saddle
ornaments, the Quartermaster officers certainly out
shined the other branches with the detail of their
insignia, featuring a separate attached casting of the
crossed sword and key overlaid on the wheel and eagle.
SOLD
A historical note you may find interesting: The
Quartermaster Department insignia as it appears in these
saddle cloth ornaments was designed in September of 1896
by then Capt. Oscar F. Long (USMA, 1876). Long was
awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle
of Bear Paw Mountain in 1877 and retired as a Brigadier
General in 1904.
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