Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptional original U.S. Model 1824 Bell Crown “Tar Bucket” Shako, dating to approximately 1824–1835, complete with its original eagle front plate, decorative chin scales, braided cords, leather rosettes, and a period white plume with what appears to be a shortened whale baleen stem. Particularly noteworthy is the survival of the original interior lining and leather sweatband, together with a faint manufacturer's stamp identifying Charles M. Domet of Boston, Massachusetts, although portions of the inscription remain difficult to decipher. The shako retains its distinctive bell-shaped profile, including the pronounced downward curve at the rear, and remains in outstanding overall condition for military headgear approaching two centuries in age. The decorative cords survive on both sides, an especially interesting feature because these fragile accessories are frequently missing from early nineteenth-century military caps. Although the plume itself appears to be of the period, we believe it was most likely added to the shako by a later collector.
This example retains an interior lining that is now heavily crinkling, but retains a faint maker’s stamp to the interior crown, reading:

Charles M. Domet?
SADILLER
Trunk Manufacture.
No. 17 Marlboro
BOSTON

The only bit we could not figure out was the lady name, making for a good research project. The lining can be pulled down to show how it would have originally connected to the underside of the sweatband, but as shown it is now crinkled towards the interior crown. It is a rather large size, roughly 7¼.

This is a very nice U.S. Militia bell crown "tar bucket" shako. Used by regular forces as well as militia units from 1820-1835. This original example retains the eagle badge, which appears complete and is held in place by two pieces of leather. The shako retains a pressed leather rosette with star/sun pattern militia button, and side star rosettes with chinscales though the chinscales are missing some scales on one side. Nice arched drop in the back adds a more dramatic look to the overall form, and this example retains the braided cords that attach to the two sides, extremely rare to see, though the cording is fraying and starting to come apart in places.

The shako retains a likely collector-added white plume that is of the period with what looks to be a whale baleen stem, but it is very short now, so the plume is not tight in the hole. With the plume attached, the shako measures roughly 13 ½” tall. The shako retains its shape well, and it is one of the nicer Tar Buckets we have offered.

As mentioned the interior retains the original lining, and the original leather sweatband is in fantastic condition with the tightening string intact as well. The exterior shell shows moderate crazing, especially on the crown where there is some heavy wear to the finish.

This Model 1824 Bell Crown Tar Bucket Shako is a particularly informative survivor of American military headgear from the early nineteenth century. Its Federal eagle plate, star-pattern militia fittings, decorative chin scales, surviving braided cords, and original leather sweatband preserve many of the features that distinguished these elaborate caps during their relatively brief period of use. The faint Boston manufacturer's stamp provides an additional avenue for historical research, although the precise reading of the maker's name remains uncertain. The accompanying period white plume, with its apparent whale baleen stem, contributes to the cap's appearance while remaining a qualified later association. Considering the survival of its original construction, decorative fittings, and interior components, this is a noteworthy example of American military and militia headgear from the decades preceding the Civil War.