134 - Spain, sash of general staff officers, blue fajín of the Estado Mayor, in box by C. Jordana

Spain, sash of general staff officers, blue fajín of the Estado Mayor, in box by C. Jordana Textile, metal thread. Sash of the general staff officers, Spain, blue band, plain sections alternating with fields in net and lozenge pattern, the two ends gathered and set into gold-colored metal-thread knops, each knop with an olive in basketweave between net-like wrapped caps, a blue tassel of twisted cords attached to each. In a red-covered box with lid label "C. JORDANA", Madrid. Good condition commensurate with age. L. 228 cm. The sash, in Spanish faja or fajín, has been worn in the Spanish army as a field sash around the waist since the Italian Wars of the 16th century and serves for distinction in the field; generals wear it in crimson. The blue sash of the general staff, the Estado Mayor, identifies the general staff officers; originally it was meant to make the officers of the headquarters recognizable on the battlefield. To this day, officers of the army and of the Guardia Civil receive the blue general staff sash in a formal ceremony after successfully completing the general staff course.