Offered is this handsome tunic, just in from one of our consignors. This is an Alter Art Dienstrock, or Old Style Service Dress, and would have been the everyday uniform for the original owner in his day to day service activity. The key characteristics are the 8-button front, French cuffs, a tall & stiffened collar, and the slash pockets below the waist line.
This tunic is in fine condition over all. The exterior shows a nice even wear with little physical damage. All I can find are a couple of superficial moth nips to the inside face of the button closure and some discoloration to the inside edge of the collar. The liner is of artificial silk, and shows several very skilled repairs, particularly in the area around the leather pass through slot for the dagger hanger. Still, nothing major, and nothing left unrepaired. Finally, all the buttons match and there are original loops for a ribbon bar above the left pocket… A very well maintained uniform.
The tunic has a super pair of shoulder board. These are typical and correct for the Heeresverwaltung. As such, they are green backed with a secondary color for the Nebenfarbe (not to be confused with Waffenfarbe). Given that this tunic is badged for the administrative branch, the cornflower blue piping of the boards is specific to an official of the military judicial services. The boards are finished with the correct gold HV cyphers of the Heeresverwaltung, and a single rank pip for Zahlmeister.
The collar tabs are rendered in aluminum wire thread and piped on three sides, in cornflower blue, as is correct for administrative tabs. The tops of the litzen show some discoloration. The breast eagle is a bullion, officer’s type and is neatly hand sewn to the tunic. There is a slight line above the eagle that suggests that the eagle has been replaced at some point, but given the quality of the sewing and the degree that the attached eagle has settled, the replacement was likely a period one.
