Original Dutch Pre-WWI Artillery Busby with Hackle by J. F. Segers & Zoon of Breda – Size 55 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition early 20th century Dutch Artillery Busby, which looks to be covered on the outside with Sealskin, a very common covering for European busby headgear. Busby is of course the English name for the Hungarian prémes csákó (“fur shako”) or kucsma, a military head-dress made of fur, originally worn by Hungarian hussars. In its original Hungarian form the busby was a cylindrical fur cap, having a bag of colored cloth hanging from the top. The end of this bag was attached to the right shoulder as a defense against sabre cuts.

After this the size and design were scaled down, and they became much more for looks than for actual protection. This example is very similar to the British Busby used by Hussars, but is definitely Dutch in origin. The pattern definitely does not match a British Royal Horse Artillery Busby. It features three “Lion’s Head” attachment points for chin scales, so this may be and officer’s version that has lost its scales. It has a very nice textured leather liner, which is marked with a size 55. The top lining is burgundy red, and has a clear makers label:

J. F. Segers & Zoon
Hofleveranciers
BREDA

“Hofleveranciers” translates in Dutch to “Purveyors to the Court”, and Breda is a city in the southern Netherlands, not far from the border with Belgium. Condition is very nice, with only light wear around the edge, and little sign of long service. There is a bit of a stain on the hackle, which we have left intact.

Ready to display!