The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Officers Shoulder Belt Plate

An early example circa 1881 with the cats tail up. A polished gilt curved backplate, on this all in silver, a ducal crown over a scroll “Princess Louise's” - below this in laurel wreaths the boars head and the wildcat with tail up, below this a scroll 'Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders'. Officer's plates are always more valuable than other ranks' badges and are typically made of higher-quality materials and feature more intricate, hand-finished detail. In very good condition. Price includes delivery within the UK. Additional charges apply for international shipping.

That is a beautiful and historically significant shoulder belt plate! 

Here are Key Details and Significance for this Officer's Shoulder Belt Plate for the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's).

Regiment: The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's).

Item Type: Officer's Shoulder Belt Plate (used to hold the cross belt).

Dating/Era: Circa 1881. This is a crucial detail as the regiment was formed in 1881 from the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. Early examples like this are highly sought after.

Key Feature:

The "cat's tail up" motif. This is the wildcat badge of the Sutherland Highlanders (93rd) and having the tail in the 'up' position is a hallmark of the very early pattern (the tail was later officially ordered to be lowered to conform to an older, heraldic version). For a brief period after 1881, the new regiment's officers wore the cat with its tail held high (erect). This was soon changed to a downward-curved or "under body" tail pattern to adhere to a more heraldic interpretation, making the "tail up" examples highly prized by collectors for their transitional and short-lived design. 

Construction: Polished gilt (brass) backplate with silver/white metal overlays for the badges, scrolls, and crown.

Mottos: 

Under the Boar's Head (Argyll/Campbell): Ne Obliviscaris (Do not forget). 

Under the Wildcat (Sutherland): Sans Peur (Without fear).

The fittings: These would be used to secure the plate to the leather cross-belt. The long pins (or spikes) at the top and the studs at the bottom suggest a robust, early construction method.

This is an excellent piece of British military history, representing the amalgamation of two famous Scottish regiments.

In conclusion, this a desirable, early Victorian officer's issue, which is highly sought after by collectors of Scottish regimental badges.