A rare surviving example of the earliest pattern lance cap or czapka which was worn from 1816 to c1829. The Dress Regulations for officers of 1822 goes into detail when describing this headdress for the lancer regiments, including instructions for the cap-lines:
Cap — crimson cloth, trencher top, ten inches square, front angle in a direct line with centre of peak, fluted sides three inches and a half deep, encircled at bottom with gold and crimson three-quarter inch lace, under which originates gold and crimson cords running up all the four corners transversely over crown; on left side a large gold bullion rosette with embroidered G.R. on crimson velvet in the centre; upper part of scull laced around with a three inch gold and crimson lace, terminating under a large gilt plate with king’s arms, which occupies the front, a black patent leather peak in front, another constantly turned up behind, the former laced on outward edge with a wide between two narrow gold braids, the latter with a wide braid between a narrow one and a gold cord; studded gilt scales and lions’ heads, with a lion’s head attached to gold cord in front: on right corner of top through which they are fastened, two gold olivets and loops: on right corner for the lines, which are of gold cord with rich flounders, bullion tassels, loops and sliders; line to fasten to left shoulder, pass round the body, and fasten to cap on right side; space between front plate and back peak occupied by two sets of braid on black leather ground, each consisting of a wide between two narrow gold braids shewing black stripes. Feather — crimson and white drooping cock-tail.
