Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 422:
Description
Offered here is a distinctive cylindrical, flat-topped kepi tailored from coarse, grayish-blue wool, retaining its original metal insignia of a bird rendered in stylized horizontal, gliding flight mounted to the front of the crown. The cut and proportions of the cap-an unpiped, flat-crowned cylindrical body paired with a stiffened, lacquered visor and a plain leather chinstrap fitted on two side posts-are consistent with French aviation headgear of the First World War era. The cap is fashioned in coarse blue-grey wool over a stiffened body, the crown finished with a rear seam. A black lacquered visor, bound at the rim, is fitted below the metal bird insignia, and a dark leather chinstrap is secured on two side posts. The interior is lined in bright yellow ribbed twill, and a leather sweatband encircles the interior of the band. Condition is consistent with age and long storage. The wool exterior shows surface dusting, localized discoloration, and scattered moth tracking, including small perforations near the crown seams. The visor exhibits scuffing and crazing, typical of the material’s age. The yellow lining remains intact, showing moderate soiling and light creasing. The sweatband shows age-appropriate drying and fragmentation. This cap remains a scarce and evocative example of French aviation service, its stylized gliding bird badge and coarse wool body offering a significant piece of Great War history.
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