Imperial German Uhlan Regiment 7 Grand Duke Baden Ensign Shoulder Board

An original ensign’s (Fähnrich) silver-cord shoulder board (Schulterstück) of the Ulanen-Regiment “Großherzog Friedrich von Baden” (Rheinisches) Nr. 7 (Uhlan Regiment “Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden,” Rhenish, No. 7). The reverse carries collection labels reading “Fig. 7.4 – Ulan-Regt 7” and identifying the regiment as the Rhenish lancer regiment No. 7 of the XXI Army Corps. A gilt “7” numeral on a two-colour underlay identifies the regiment, and the absence of rank stars is consistent with the ensign grade.

The board is built of flat braided silver cord worked in the herringbone pattern and turned at the rounded head, with a gilt “7” numeral applied to the lower field. It is mounted on a red wool underlay carrying a yellow border — the two-colour, or dual, underlay introduced in 1915 to distinguish regiments more precisely in the field. A vertical button slit is worked at the head, and the squared base terminates in cut cord ends.

Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 7 bore the name of Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden and stood as a Rhenish lancer regiment within the XXI Army Corps in the western borderlands. The uhlans were the lance-armed light cavalry of the Imperial Army, employed for reconnaissance, pursuit, and shock action. The Fähnrich, or ensign, was the senior officer-aspirant grade, permitted to wear the officer-pattern cord board of his regiment without the rank stars of a commissioned officer.

The numeral “7” identifies the regiment, while the red-and-yellow dual underlay marks the 1915 distinction. No rank star is present, consistent with the ensign grade.

Condition is very good. The silver cord is bright with strong braid definition, and the gilt numeral is secure. The dual underlay is strong, the red field and yellow border both clear, and the collection labels are intact on the reverse. The base shows lightly frayed cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

A lancer board bearing the honour-name of the Grand Duke of Baden, in the ensign grade and carrying the 1915 dual underlay, draws together several collecting threads at once — the named-regiment connection, the officer-aspirant rank, and the documented uniform reform. The complete numeral and secure attribution make it an uncommon and appealing representative piece.