Not currently on display at the V&A

Shako badge

Shako Badge
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Badges such as this were worn on the front of a shako, a tall military cap worn by cavalry and infantry troops in the Crimean War. The design of this badge would have identified the owner as a member of the Russian Grenadiers.

This shako badge was found by William Gilbert on the Crimea battlefields in 1899. Gilbert, the librettist half of the duo Gilbert and Sullivan, created an internationally-touring canon of comic operas in the late 19th century, including H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleShako badge (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brass plate
Brief description
Russian shako badge from the Crimean War, 19th century
Physical description
Brass plate badge depicting an exploding grenade, with a central circle and three flames shooting out from the top, left and right sides. There is a small hook on the reverse of the badge.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.0cm
  • Width: 10.4cm
Credit line
Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte
Summary
Badges such as this were worn on the front of a shako, a tall military cap worn by cavalry and infantry troops in the Crimean War. The design of this badge would have identified the owner as a member of the Russian Grenadiers.

This shako badge was found by William Gilbert on the Crimea battlefields in 1899. Gilbert, the librettist half of the duo Gilbert and Sullivan, created an internationally-touring canon of comic operas in the late 19th century, including H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.
Collection
Accession number
S.670-2016

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Record createdNovember 22, 2016
Record URL
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