An Italian Horse Artillery Officer's Uniform
An Italian Horse Artillery Officer's Uniform

Details
An Italian Horse Artillery Officer's Uniform
A fine pre-war Dress uniform of the 5th Regiment Voloire as follows: dark blue double-breasted tunic, with two rows of gilt buttons bearing a Grenade above crossed Gun-barrels, stand-and-fall collar and pointed cuffs, both of black velvet and edged with narrow yellow piping, a white metal Star at each end of collar, detachable blue cloth shoulder-straps, lined and edged in yellow, with Horse Artillery device and two stars in embroidery; companion overalls with double yellow stripes each 1¼ in. with small brass buckles to footstraps; and a fine French-grey cape, bearing a Star in silver embroidery on each end of collar, and fastening-chain attached by two gilt lion's-mask bosses
See illustration (3)

Lot Essay

This uniform was worn by Lieutenant (later Captain) Count Franco Corsi di Bosnasco who served with the Italian contingent in Russia during WW2, and died there as a Prisoner of War in 1943. His portrait appears below.