The new lancer uniform of the 9th Regiment of Light Dragoons (Lancers) inspired a plethora of prints and paintings. This one purports to show fine details of the uniform but falls down in many respects. The caption to the print says, ‘AN OFFICER OF THE 9th LANCERS IN COURT DRESS’ Drawn & etched by Ed. Hull. Below the title, ‘Pubish’d by Ed Hull No19 Kennington Oval 1 Feby. 1817.
The trousers are shown as grey, but for full dress (or court dress) they should be crimson to match the facings. Close inspection shows signs of crimson around the waist-belt which indicates that the colourist initially painted the trousers as crimson, then painted over them with grey.
The lance cap, or czapka, is shown clearly with a recognisable broad lace pattern around the top and base of the skull part; Austrian Wave. The waist of the cap has a narrower lace which appears also to be Austrian Wave. An article by David J Knight in the Bulletin of the Military Historical Society no.267 (Feb 2017) provides a useful list of officers’ lace used in the Regular Cavalry 1821-1831. The list does not mention lance caps but the undress forage cap had Austrian Wave lace. However, the pouch-belt in this print does not have the lace pattern as stated on the list; Herringbone with a crimson silk stripe. The girdle should also have a Herringbone pattern. The trouser lace is given as Broken Bias.
The paintings and prints of the Regency period provided a puzzle to the artist when it came to the arrangement of the gold cord cap lines. This print shows them as winding round the neck and extending from the right shoulder to the left side, hooking up to the top button, and hanging as flounders and tassels. There is a glimpse of the cords under his left arm. But there is no sign of the cords attaching to the lance-cap, which they should, on the right side. The gold plaited aiguillettes emerge from the right epaulet to hook up to the top button on the right side, leaving a single cord to hang under the right arm. The buttons seem to be eight on each side although one may be hidden beneath the girdle. There are no buttons at the top of the lapels as there should be.
