Button from the uniform of one of the lower rank of "chief" regiments of RIA

Brass stamping. Satisfactory collectible condition. Button out of the ground, gently brushed by us. The guarantee of authenticity.

The tradition to appoint the chiefs of the regiments of the Imperial family members and foreign Royal houses there were in the Russian army in the late 1700-ies under Paul 1. Some foreign royals not only were the "bosses", but really commanded the respective shelves. During the reign of Alexander the 1st, "chief" shelves, under the "Additional rules about the form of uniforms", was established a special award in the form of buttonholes with gold or silver embroidery. In the future, "chief" regiments had as "identification" signs and even monogram "chiefs" on the shoulder straps and epaulets. It should be noted that in the Russian army honorary titles has not been assigned shelves forever. They just pointed out who of high personages is a patron of a certain regiment. By the adoption of a special high means above the regiment was the insignia for this part. Usually, but not always, upon the death of the Supreme "boss" the regiment has lost it's name (a monogram of the dead "chiefs" were made of metal the color of the corresponding color has the shelf "device", in contrast to monograms alive "sponsors"). Names of the highest "chiefs" could change."Patronage" shelf until 1862 wore on the uniforms buttons with the image corresponding to the prescribed for specific departments. Infantry figures, Grenadier with grenade and numbers, the guards with the eagle and so on.In 1862, when more than two fold increase in the number of army regiments have been significant changes in the "button" design of the outfit. Buttoned military Department, except the guard and the generals, had ceased to represent the rooms and fittings. In the shelves where the "chefs" were members of the Imperial family (the Emperor, the Empress, and since 1869 the crown Prince and the crown Princess) uniformed buttons minted by the Imperial crown. The same buttons during this period and received several military schools that had "patrons" rulers. However, in 1904, when according to the decree of Nicholas the 2nd all parts of the Russian army was granted the right "like Guards" to wear on the uniforms buttons with double-headed eagle, the "patronage" of the crown on the buttons disappear. Military schools, which had button-down image of the Imperial crown: Nikolaev engineering school, Pavlovsk military school and Aleksandrovskoe military school (information from the website www.pugoviza.ru)