Original British Victorian Era Royal Fusiliers Bearskin Busby Complete With Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense Badge, Intact Liner and Chinstrap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. In the United Kingdom busbies are of two kinds: (a) the hussar busby, cylindrical in shape, with a bag; this is worn by hussars and the Royal Horse Artillery; (b) the rifle busby, a folding cap of astrakhan (curly lambswool) formerly worn by rifle regiments, in shape somewhat resembling a Glengarry but taller. Both have straight plumes in the front of the headdress. The headdress is worn with full dress by the Waterloo Band of The Rifles, the Royal Horse Artillery and ceremonial detachments at regimental expense. In its hussar version it is now made of black nylon fur, although Bandmasters still retain the original animal fur. The busby should not be mistaken for the much taller bearskin cap, worn most notably by the five regiments of Foot Guards of the Household Division (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards). Around 1900 the word “busby” was used colloquially to denote the tall bear and racoonskin “caps” worn by foot guards and fusiliers and the feather bonnets of Highland infantry. This usage is now obsolete.

The busby is in good, service worn condition. Almost all of the original fur is still present though there are areas of loss. The chin strap is still completely attached though you should use caution as it is only attached by a few threads. The front badge is in great condition and displays the Honi soit qui mal y pense motto around the central part. Honi soit qui mal y pense is a maxim in the Anglo-Norman language, a dialect of Old Norman French spoken by the medieval ruling class in England, meaning “shamed be whoever thinks ill of it”, usually translated as “shame on anyone who thinks evil of it” It is the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter, the highest of all British knighthoods, except in Scotland.

In current French usage, the phrase may be used ironically to imply the presence of a hidden agenda or a conflict of interest.

There is faint markings on the inside but it is too faded to be able to be read properly.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.