This is an Emperor Franz Joseph era officer's shako of the Austrian Cavalry. The body is composed of black felt with a black patent leather top, front peak and strip around the bottom edge. There is a wide gold lace band around the top edge, twisted gold bullion cord across the top of the front peak and a gold band of gold bullion along the edge of the peak. There is a gilt two-headed Austrian Coat-of-Arms front plate. Above the coat-of-arms is a short black horsehair plume with a gold bullion cockade with "FJ" cypher. The sweat band is brown leather and there is a gray silk lining with two brass buckles and gold embossed "Karel Sule". The shako is complete with an oil skin locking hat box with blue cotton lining and key.