French Gorget
The silver escutcheon in the center of this brass officer’s gorget, a vestigial piece of armor worn around the neck by European infantry officers as a sign of rank, displays the royal arms of the Bourbon kings of France. French Army officers wore gorgets like this one while serving in America during the Revolutionary War. About 5,000 officers and enlisted men under the command of General Rochambeau, the largest contingent of French troops to come to America during the war, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, in July 1780.
Object Details
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Gorget
France
1767-1789
Brass, Silver
Museum of the American Revolution
2003.00.0088
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