A Pair of 19th Century Torcheres in the Form of Soldiers of the French Imperial Guard. Circa 1860

Featuring two Zouaves from the French army of the 19th Century. Their belt plate bears a pomegranate, thus signifying their membership of the French Imperial Guard. Their specific unit was formed in 1855 on the front line facing Sebastopol: it later became the “fourth Zouave battalion” in September 1870. The acorn adorning their turban (this one being worn for official ceremonies) is bright yellow. For the other three “Zouave” regiments of the line, it was blue: this is a distinguishing characteristic, along with the fact that the latter’s belt plates bore no pomegranate.