item details
Overview
This jacket was worn by an officer of the British Royal Horse Artillery (formed in 1793). The wearer would have cut a fine figure with the ornate gold braid looping (also known as frogging) prominent on his chest.
Such looping had been a popular form of decoration on regimental dress since the 18th century. The more flamboyant designs were worn by the hussars (light cavalry regiments), derived from Hungarian national dress. The ornamentation of hussar dress influenced both men’s and women’s civilian fashions.