{"product_id":"imperial-german-mecklenburg-fusilier-90-kaiser-wilhelm-hauptmann-shoulder-board-copy","title":"Imperial German Mecklenburg Grenadier 89 Hauptmann Shoulder Board Cypher","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eAn original Hauptmann’s silver-cord officer shoulder board (Schulterstück) of the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89 (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89). The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 10 – IR 89 Hauptm.” The crowned cypher identifies the regiment’s Mecklenburg-Schwerin chief, while a pair of gilt rank stars fixes the wearer’s grade at Hauptmann (captain).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eThe board is built of flat braided silver cord laid in parallel runs and turned at the rounded head, the metallic ground shot through with fine red soul threads (Seele). It is mounted on a white wool underlay and backed in black wool on the reverse, and a silver (white-metal) regimental button is retained at the head. The lower field carries a gilt crown above an interlaced gilt cypher, with one gilt six-pointed rank star (Stern) set above the crown and a second below the cypher, the two together denoting the rank. A vertical button slit is worked at the head for attachment, and the squared base terminates in cut cord ends that would seat beneath the shoulder seam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eGrenadier-Regiment Nr. 89 was the senior infantry regiment of the Mecklenburg duchies and one of the few formations in the Imperial order of battle drawn jointly from two sovereign states. Its I. Bataillon stood at Schwerin under the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, while the II. Bataillon was quartered at Neustrelitz under the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, each battalion wearing the cypher of its own house. This board belongs with the Schwerin material and carries the Schwerin cypher; the regiment formed part of the IX Army Corps and bore the elevated prestige attached to the grenadier designation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eThe crowned monogram is the cypher of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and appears to read as the interlaced “FF” of Friedrich Franz — the dynastic name borne by the duchy’s sovereigns — though the finest detail is partly obscured and the specific Grand Duke is therefore not asserted. The crown and cypher mark the regiment as one held under a royal chief, and the two gilt stars are the rank distinction of a Hauptmann.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eCondition is good and complete. The silver cord retains strong braid definition with the expected tarnish to the metallic surface, and the retained regimental button has darkened with age. The gilt crown, cypher, and both rank stars are present and secure. The white underlay is sound, the black backing intact, and the collection label is present on the reverse. The base shows cut cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 8.0pt;\"\u003eA captain’s board of the Mecklenburg grenadier regiment, complete with crowned Grand Ducal cypher, correct white underlay, rank stars, and a retained regimental button, sits well above a plain or numeral-only strap in desirability and fits squarely within the collect-by-state framework. It also stands as the Schwerin, captain-grade counterpart to the regiment’s Strelitz ensign board, the two together illustrating how a single jointly-held regiment wore the cyphers of both Mecklenburg sovereign houses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 6.0pt;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Derrittmeister Militaria Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49701180113135,"sku":"23-1007 XJT@JT","price":254.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/9169\/5855\/files\/23-1007_1.jpg?v=1781123624","url":"https:\/\/derrittmeister.com\/products\/imperial-german-mecklenburg-fusilier-90-kaiser-wilhelm-hauptmann-shoulder-board-copy","provider":"Derrittmeister Militaria Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}