Pareglio & Ayres Antiques

Description

This is a piece of historical folk art, specifically a shop display sign designed to catch the eye of passersby from the street. It is modeled after a Napoleonic-style bicorn hat (or "chapeau-bras"), which was standard dress for military and naval officers during the late 18th and 19th centuries.

It is crafted from toleware (painted or lacquered sheet metal, typically tin or iron), a durable material often used for outdoor signage in the 1800s.

The sign replicates the classic "fore-and-aft" cocked hat. It features a prominent bullion-style cockade and loop on the side, mimicking the gold wire lace and button details found on real military headwear.

The piece displays an authentic, "untouched" original painted finish with a deep reddish-brown or "Napoleonic red" patina. The wear and tear, including minor surface oxidation and paint loss, is commensurate with its age and long-term use as an outdoor fixture.

The "untouched" original painted finish is its greatest asset. Any evidence of overpainting or modern restoration can actually lower the value for serious folk-art collectors.

Items like this are highly sought after by collectors of militaria, advertising history, and folk art. Its rarity lies in the fact that it is a three-dimensional trade sign rather than the wearable hats themselves, which are more common.


Pareglio & Ayres Antiques Interiors, located in Canterbury, Kent, UK and with a base in Italy just under an hour from Milan.

Please contact us before making a special trip to us.