Epaulettes of one of the Grand Dukes with the rank of general

Smooth, so-called polished, metal monograms appeared in the reign of Nicholas I as a distinctive sign of officers and lower ranks who served in companies, squadrons and batteries under the patronage of the emperor. In everyday life, such companies were called "boss", "Sovereign" or "monogram". The color of the monogram corresponded to the color of the metal device assigned to the part. The tradition proved to be stable and lasted until 1917 . The overhead monograms that appeared in the late XIX – early XX centuries, performing the function of ciphers assigned to the parts, differed from the monograms of the "Sovereign's Mouths" by the presence of an oblique notch that imitated canting sewing. The monogram of the chef's mouths has never had such a notch. However, there was one important rule: only those officers and lower ranks who were in the company, as they were then called, "on the face", i.e. held regular positions in it, could wear the imperial monogram. There were always a few such officers: no more than seven or eight people in each regiment. General positions at the company level were not provided at all. This right did not apply to officers and generals who were on the lists of these companies, but did not actually serve in them. There was only one exception to this rule – persons of the imperial family.

All the grand dukes from birth were listed in the lists of various military units, and the closest in kinship to the emperor were in the guards, and in these lists they were assigned to the first company or squadron, with very rare exceptions (the chief batteries of the guards artillery). So far, not a single regulatory act has been found that allowed them to wear the monograms of the chef's mouths. However, judging by the photos, this practice was very frequent.

The epaulettes are in very good condition, the lining and monograms are installed in our time (monograms, in our opinion, are newly made, installed in place of the lost ones). A rare pair, a guarantee of authenticity.