Sashes and aiguillettes worn by Napoleonic era French Colonels?

[photocrinch]

I have the quite nice set of Line Infantry Mounted Colonels in plastic produced by "Waterloo 1815, but have found one of the sculpts quite challenging. It depicts a French line officer, presumably a Colonel, wearing aiguillettes and a sash.

Questions:

1) When were aiguillettes introduced for French officers – (sometime around 1812?), and how universally used were they?

2) Would line Colonels have had the option of wearing a gold waist sash? (I have seen them on generals and marshals but I don't think I have ever seen a depiction of a Colonel wearing one).

Here is a link to the set in question and the review in plastic soldier review, which calls out the depiction as quite accurate (with sash and aiguillettes):

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1590

The figure in question is Row 2 figure 3.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

David

[John Boadle]

I'm not as familiar with Napoleonics as once I was, but I would say French regimental officers didn't wear either sashes or aiguillettes at all, full stop. Either this figure is an error or else he's supposed to be from another army.

[joroas]

A General would have a sash and aiguilettes.

[photocrinch]

Thanks all.  I am learning that by and large the aiguillettes were confined to the Imperial Guard and a few others.  The command sash would indicate a general, though this sash appears narrower and may have been intended as some sort of sword belt rather than a command sash.

[forrester]

It doesn't sound at all like a French mounted officer.
The set appears to relate to a variety of armies so might be intended for something else eg Dutch?

[Arthur]

That figure is a bit of a question mark. His Hungarian-style boots and sabre would point toward light infantry, except light infantry colonels didn't wear aiguillettes which, as you did point out, were speficic to the Imperial Guard. It is hard to make out his shako plate but the figure may have been intended as a Young Guard officer with the sculptor mistakenly giving him an aiguillette instead of a second fringed epaulette. He isn't wearing a sash though, just a waistbelt.

[Ray Rivers]

That figure is a bit of a question mark. His Hungarian-style boots and sabre would point toward light infantry, except light infantry colonels didn't wear aiguillettes which, as you did point out, were speficic to the Imperial Guard. It is hard to make out his shako plate but the figure may have been intended as a Young Guard officer with the sculptor mistakenly giving him an aiguillette instead of a second fringed epaulette. He isn't wearing a sash though, just a waistbelt.

Agreed.

The sash is indeed a sword belt, so I would cut off the aiguillette and he would be fine as a light infantry officer.

[photocrinch]

I am more and more inclined to do just that, as the aiguillettes would be easy enough to remove.  A shame I already painted his surtout though.  :{

[Ray Rivers]

I would just leave it then.

There were so many quirks and personal adjustments in French uniforms that I don't think it really matters.

[photocrinch]

Thanks Ray - you have a valid point!