Edwardian 12th Prince of Wales' Royal Lancers Officers Bit Boss Horse Furniture Ornament Badge

A solid brass Officers' Pattern Horse Furniture Bit Boss ornament, king's crown and worn post 1901, of two part construction with white metal mount of the Prince of Wales's Feathers. The central device has some wear, two original fasteners to reverse, but these have been reduced for ease of display. Some spots of verdigris to front. Circa 9.3cm tall and 5cm wide.

Bit bosses were worn by both light and heavy cavalry regiments from about 1860 to 1902, when a new pattern of bridle was introduced on which bit bosses were no longer worn. Officers retained the pre 1902 pattern bridle and continued to wear bit bosses for review order but with the new pattern King's crown from 1901 onwards. It should be noted that a universal pattern of bit boss was worn by other ranks. Distinctive regimental bosses were used only by officers, the RSM, the Bandmaster and the Mounted Drummer. There were some exceptions, such as the 19th and 20th Hussars, whose Officers appear to have worn the universal pattern. Officers' bit bosses as a field of collecting is therefore much under-rated as they are relatively hard to come by.

I will supply a copy of the excellent article by J T Thomson from Soldiers of the Queen, Issue 41, dated 1985-86, which provides excellent illustrations of the boss badges worn.

C25.1

on hold for Mark

Code: 62007