Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a fantastic militia shako which was worn by a member of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia during the 1830s and 1840s. A shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with an ornamental plate or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise; and often has a feather, plume or pompom attached at the top.

From 1800 on, the shako became a common military headdress worn by the majority of regiments in the armies of Europe and the Americas. Replacing in most instances the light bicorne, the shako was initially considered an improvement. Made of heavy felt and leather, it retained its shape and provided some protection for the soldier's skull, while its visor shaded his eyes. It retained this preeminence until the mid-19th century, when spiked helmets began to appear in the army of Prussia, which influenced armies of the various German states; and the more practical kepi replaced it for all but parade wear in the French Army.

This example bears a gorgeous shako plate for the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, or MVM. It consists of an interrupted star burst encircling the Mass. gauntleted arm holding a sword with the motto, “MASS VOLUNTEER MILITIA”. The shako plate has an outstanding shadow behind it, showing that it has always been there. 

The body of the shako is in great shape for its age with crazing to the tarred leather. The metal ring is retained at the crown, held in by four rivets. The brass visor is in great shape with the brass plate above it held in by the correct star badges, though two of the three rivets are missing to the front. There are also two slits in the shako above this where another plate would have been. The leather trim around the bottom edges do show some heavy wear and minor loss. The overall condition is good with some heat shrinkage to the leather, typical of nearly 200 year old leather.

The shako retains a gorgeous red white and blue plume that is now heavily faded in color. We are not sure if it is original to this shako, but it is of the period and truly magnificent. 

The interior retains the original leather sweatband with the correct string looped through for tightening purposes. The interior is inscribed to the side 22 ¼, likely the size, and the interior crown has the letters V and T inscribed. 

A wonderful example of a rather rare shako, comes more than ready for display.

Seminole Wars

The Seminole Wars (also known as the Florida Wars) were three related military conflicts in Florida between the United States and the Seminole, citizens of a Native American nation which formed in the region during the early 1700s. Hostilities commenced about 1816 and continued through 1858, with two periods of uneasy truce between active conflict. The Seminole Wars were the longest and most expensive, in both human and financial cost to the United States, of the American Indian Wars.