Nicholas II era general rank shako in bottle green wool covered body with lower black wool band both piped in red.Wide silver bullion ribbon on the top edge with a zigzag pattern reserved for general rank uniforms.
Silver-plated enameled star of order of St. Andrew the First Called, reserved for elite Life-Guards regiments surmounted by an award scroll "For Balkans in 1877," bestowed to the unit for their bravery during the Russian-Turkish war. Silver-plated brass crossed axes sapper distinction unique to the Life-Guards Sapper battalion on sides and under the star. Silver-plated brass leather-backed chinscales. Silver cord podves and tassels held by sapper-branch silver-plated metal buttons with Russian Imperial eagles and crossed axes. Lacquered black leather top and visor. Silver cord service repeika mini sultan. Silk "curtains" type liner with leather sweatband. Maker's label on the underside "I. N. Nikitin - St. Petersburg". Condition: Minor craquelures on lacquered top and visor, but overall superbly preserved condition with all original parts including repeika type service mini-sultan. Attribution: This shako is attributed to Major-General Nikolai Dobrovolsky, the chief commander of the Life-Guards Sapper Battalion from 1906 until 1911.