Ceremonial bearskin cap, other ranks, 1983-1997 circa (bearskin)

Ceremonial bearskin cap, other ranks, sealed pattern 1983 circa-1997. A bearskin is a tall fur hat worn as part of the ceremonial uniform of several regiments in the British Army, most notably the five regiments of Foot Guards. Bearskin fur has been used for grenadier caps since 1677. After the Battle of Waterloo (1815) the 1st Foot Guards were named the Grenadier Guards and all men were allowed to wear the fur cap or bearskin. A standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards weighs on average one kilogramme. The bearskin is made from the fur of the Canadian brown bear or ‘Grizzly’. Very few new bearskin caps are manufactured nowadays as bearskins will, with good care and refurbishment, last in excess of one hundred years. These days a stock of bearskin caps are kept in store and issued to each battalion when they take up ceremonial duties in London, unlike in the past, when each guardsman had his own cap. For many years the Ministry of Defence and the British Army have tried to find a synthetic alternative to the fur. As yet, no acceptable alternative to the fur has been found. However, synthetic alternatives are used as part of a soldier’s uniform wherever possible, for example belts are now plastic rather than leather.