United Kingdom. A Royal Volunteer Artillery Tunic, Colonel, c.1890

A superbly crafted Artillery tunic, constructed of fine dark blue wool. The tunic features a raised collar trimmed with silver bullion wire and embroidered gold bullion grenade collar badges at each edge. Secured to the shoulders with a small silver Royal artillery button are silver cord artillery pattern shoulder cords each carrying two embroidered bullion Royal artillery insignia and one embroidered bullion crown to denote the rank of Colonel. Each cuff is decorated for the rank of Colonel. The front is completed by nine large silver buttons as well as seven at the back waist, made in London. The tunic body and sleeves are lined with a quilted beige twill, the collar and skirt lined with black silk twill. There is a concealed pocket at the left breast. The interior bears no maker’s mark. The jacket measures 46 cm across the shoulders x 80 cm in length. Obvious signs of service wear and overall age, the right shoulder cord loose, otherwise, a well-preserved Victorian Royal Artillery tunic in better than very fine condition.