Regency Military Hat Tin for Captain Guppy, Circa 1810
Regency Military Hat Tin for Captain Guppy, Circa 1810
3773
A rare and evocative Regency military hat tin, dating to circa 1810, with a brass plaque engraved for Captain Guppy of the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. At once a practical travelling accessory and a highly personal military object, it offers a tangible connection to the mounted volunteer forces of Devon during the Napoleonic era.
Made to protect a valuable military hat during travel, storage, and active service, the tin would have been an essential part of an officer's equipment. Military headwear of the Regency period was both costly and highly formal, often incorporating delicate braid, plumes, cockades, and shaped felt or beaver bodies; a purpose-made tin helped preserve its form and finish. The engraved brass name plaque transforms this utilitarian object into a uniquely individual relic, recording its association with Captain Guppy and his regiment.
The Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry formed part of the county's volunteer cavalry tradition, raised amid the threat of French invasion and the wider demands of the Napoleonic Wars. Officers in such corps were drawn from local society and played an important role in the defence and civil organisation of their county. Objects connected to named yeomanry officers from this early period are uncommon, particularly when they retain their original identification.
With its simple, purposeful form and richly engraved brass plaque, this hat tin has considerable historical presence. It would make a compelling addition to a collection of Regency militaria, British yeomanry objects, named military equipment, or decorative antique boxes with strong provenance.
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