Original U.S. Mexican-American War Era Crimson Artillery Officer’s Silk Sash

Original Item. Only One Available. In the American military, sashes as badges of rank date back to the Revolutionary War. Early sashes tend to be flat woven. Those with rounded turk’s head knots worked over wooden forms with tassels seem to come in around the Mexican War and are the standard pattern by the 1850s.

This example still uses the open weave of the early pattern sashes and does not have knots, which means it is perfect for Mexican-American War issue. The sash retains its crimson color very well, with some minor fraying along the ends of the tassels. Most from the period have shifted in color to a purple or maroon from oxidation, exposure and shifts in the dyes. This shows just slight wear to some of the tassels at their upper ends, and some small scattered runs or holes, but nothing egregious, and nothing very noticeable unless the sash is pulled taut. The sash is roughly 10 feet long, but it is too long to get an accurate measurement.

Each end of the sash has a small patterned area with diagonal spacing as shown. The material is in amazing condition for its age. This is the first officer’s sash we have offered, and we do not expect it to last long at all.

Ready for further research and display!