Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870 [hat and epaulets in a tin box]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08877 Author/Creator: Farragut, David Glasgow, 1801-1870 Place Written: London, England Type: Object Date: circa 1867-1870 Pagination: 3 items Height: 20 cm, Width: 47 cm, Depth: 23.5 cm Order a Copy
Tin box was crafted specifically to hold the hat and epaulets. It is 20.5 cm high, 45.5 cm long, and 20.75 cm in width. Inside, the hat lays on its side while two folding platforms hold the epaulets for easy storage. Below the epaulets are two spaces to hold unknown items. Both spaces are now empty. The inside of the box is lined with a purple-colored felt and has a felt pocket on the inside lid. The box has a half-dozen labels pasted on its outside. The labels were for a man named G.M. Wheadon of the Royal Navy, who appears to have taken a round trip between Britain and China. One label states that Wheadon's box was supposed to arrive in Southhampton. The box lid has a clasp that is in working order and a handle on top. The lid also has what appears to be a maker's mark that says "Cleve Matthews & Seagrove Ltd" as well as an engraved name plate with no name (although the letters R.N. are inscribed on the plate -- a reference to the Royal Navy). Wheadon's relation to Farragut, if any, could not be ascertained. The hat is made of black felt and is in near perfect condition. It has a size of 44 cm in length and 16.5 cm high. The hat was made by the company F. Highatt in Gosport, Britain. Gold wiring, brass buttons, and ribbons also decorate the hat. A leaf-motif is found on some of the cloth bordering the edges. The band on the inside is made of leather. The two epaulets are 18 cm in length, 12.5 cm in length (both measurements taken from the top) and the dangling gold wires have a length of about 9 cm. The golden-colored, stripped cloth of the epaulets is backed by leather and each has a metal clasp to attach to the uniform. An anchor is pinned to each epaulet along with a brass button. Both were made by "Gieves Limited / By Special Appointment to His Majesty the King." Date of creation based on Farragut's command of the European Squadron. Provenance: Peter Costanzo Auctioneers, Admiral Farragut Academy-Naval Preparatory School, Pine Beach, NJ. The Academy operated for 60 years, and collected naval artifacts early on. This item was sold as Admiral Farragut's hat and epaulets.
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