Bavarian officer’s shoulder board with crossed cannon for artillery regiment
- Regular price
- $195.00
- Sale price
- $195.00
- Regular price
SKU: 23-01
This is a single Bavarian officer’s shoulder board for the Imperial German Army, most likely dating from the late 19th century to the early World War I period. The piece is constructed from interwoven silver bullion cords, accented by visible blue thread strands braided into the weave—a hallmark distinction of Bavarian officer insignia, which diverged from the purely silver or silver/gilt Prussian standard.
Mounted atop the bullion is a finely struck pair of crossed artillery cannons in silvered brass, denoting service in the Bayerisches Feldartillerie-Regiment or a related Bavarian artillery formation. The cannon barrels are deeply detailed with ringed muzzles, engraved bands, and rifling—elements typically reserved for higher-quality, privately tailored officer boards.
The reverse is covered in vivid crimson red velvet, signaling artillery service, and features a matching red velvet tongue stitched to the backing for uniform attachment. Close inspection shows a single mounting hole at the tip and two machine-sewn reinforcement lines down the tongue—a pattern consistent with custom parade boards. The velvet edges are neatly finished with gilt braid piping, framing the red facing fabric. The velvet appears hand-applied, with some minor fraying and one puncture near the slit, likely from long-term wear or storage.
Notably, the bullion exhibits a pronounced patina across both the silver and the gilded threads, and fine wear reveals intermittent hints of greenish oxidation, a natural result of the copper content in metallic thread exposed to moisture over time. The blue threads remain visible yet subtle, tucked within the lower plaits and highlighted under magnification or side lighting.
Condition:
Condition: Very good. The bullion cords are intact and tightly woven, with no unraveling. Patina is even, with rich depth across the surface. The cannon insignia shows age toning but no deformation or looseness. The red velvet reverse is complete, retaining strong color with only minor wear to the tongue and one small pinhole. This piece remains structurally sound and highly displayable.
Historical Context:
The Kingdom of Bavaria maintained a semi-autonomous military identity within the German Empire from 1871 until the empire’s dissolution in 1918. While Bavarian units wore broadly similar styles to their Prussian counterparts, they incorporated distinctive features such as light blue piping, blue-threaded bullion, and locally issued medals. Artillery units, vital to both home defense and field operations, were especially prominent in Bavaria’s military makeup.
Officers from Bavarian artillery regiments often held strong regional allegiances and served with distinction on multiple fronts in World War I. This shoulder board, with its combination of blue-braided bullion and crossed cannon device, would have been worn on a Waffenrock or full-dress tunic, typically on the right shoulder during ceremonial or peacetime duties, or during early-war mobilizations before the shift to simplified feldgrau insignia.
Display Suggestions:
This Bavarian officer’s board would display beautifully alongside a Bavarian artillery pickelhaube, officer’s tunic, or a collection of Bavarian-issued medals and decorations. Its blue-threaded bullion offers a rare variation within Imperial shoulder boards and makes it a standout piece for focused collectors of German regional militaria.
Provenance:
Acquired from a private European collection specializing in regional German military insignia. No maker's mark is visible, but style and materials are consistent with Munich-based military tailors circa 1895–1914.



