CUIRASS, breast and back French Mod. 1825/52, 2nd Empire, Carabinier, Team. Steel, breast-piece: with central ridge and brass sheet-metal cover. Attachments for the shoulder straps; the center featuring a brass medallion, surrounded by an aureole in nickel-silver. Breast-piece signed "Mre Impale de Châtt. Juin 1860, 2me taille 1ere largeur, No.664". Back-piece: with recessed center and brass sheet-metal cover, riveted clasp chain on leather, signed: "Châtt. Août 1865, 2me taille 2me largeur No.882". H 47 cm. The Carabiniers excelled as heavy cavalry until 1815, especially in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1867, Emperor Napoleon III united the Carabiniers into a regiment with six squadrons of 145 men, fighting with back-swords (heavy sabers). * The full tax is charged on this item marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.