Imperial German Mecklenburg Fusilier 90 Kaiser Wilhelm Hauptmann Shoulder Board

An original Hauptmann’s field-grey officer shoulder board (Schulterstück) of the Mecklenburg Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 90, the regiment that bore the name and cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm. The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 10.0 – Fus. R. 90 Mecklenburg.” The Imperial crowned “W” cypher identifies the regiment and its imperial chief, while a pair of gilt rank stars fixes the wearer’s grade at Hauptmann (captain).

The board is built of field-grey (feldgrau) braided cord — the subdued service cord that replaced the bright silver dress cord for active wear from 1915 — laid in parallel runs, turned at the rounded head, and shot through with fine soul threads (Seele) in red and orange. It is mounted on a field-grey wool underlay that forms the full backing across the reverse. The lower field carries a gilt Imperial crown (Kaiserkrone) above an interlaced “W” cypher, with one gilt six-pointed rank star (Stern) set above the crown and a second below the cypher, the two stars together denoting the rank. A vertical button slit is worked at the head for attachment, and the squared base terminates in cut, frayed cord ends that would seat beneath the shoulder seam.

Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 90 was the fusilier regiment of the Mecklenburg contingent, raised by the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and brigaded within the IX Army Corps. The fusilier designation, once denoting a class of light line infantry, survived into the Imperial period chiefly as a traditional and honorific title. A regiment carrying the name and cypher of the Kaiser held a particular place of distinction, and the Imperial rather than royal crown above the “W” marks the imperial chief. The field-grey construction reflects the wartime shift to subdued insignia, the bright silver dress boards giving way to muted service patterns as the demands of the front required less conspicuous uniforms.

The crowned monogram is the “W” cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm beneath the Imperial crown, marking the regiment as one bearing the Kaiser’s name. The two gilt stars flanking the cypher are the rank distinction of a Hauptmann.

Condition is honest and consistent with field service. The field-grey cord is intact with good braid definition, lightly soiled and aged as expected for a service-worn board. The gilt crown, “W” cypher, and both rank stars are present and secure. The feldgrau underlay is sound on both faces, with the collection label intact on the reverse. The base shows frayed cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

A field-grey captain’s board from a Kaiser-named Mecklenburg regiment draws together several desirable threads at once — the collect-by-state Mecklenburg connection, the captain’s rank, the Imperial “Kaiser Wilhelm” cypher, and the wartime feldgrau pattern actively sought by uniform and insignia collectors. The complete devices and the secure regimental and rank attribution make this a strong and characterful representative piece for a Mecklenburg, Imperial infantry, or field-uniform collection.