I think I have asked about that before, but I cannot find the thread and in addition pics were poor then. But now, since after a long time this boards found a new home in my collection, I ask again:
Is it reissued imperial boards? If so, for hat service? Or is it Soviet non-military?
And what award ribbon served as the backing and attachment stripes?
While I'd never stand by it, the gold lace has a Bulgarian look to it; perhaps a forum member with a known set of Bulgarian boards can post here to test that theory.
Hello,
I don't think it's bulgarian or russian (even for a civil uniform). My guess: a shoulderboard made in an eastern european country with a civilian ribbon for a soviet officer at the end of the war. When I was kid, I ask my grandmother to make me the same uniform as general Orloff, the bad guy in Octopussy. She found , in Brussels in 1983, a golden zig-zag ribbon narrower but almost identical in design to the soviet general officer shoulderboard background, two side by side made a very convincing effect.
You know, I think that lace is of imperial russian origin. I have once even seen russian epaulets with this or very similar lace for sale on a local flea market quite some time ago.
I also don't think it's bulgarian - from what I know, it came from the former SU. Altough it may be.
As for details - see pic below. Yes, it's a floral motif.
I have some boards from Estonia and they resemble these boards. I have to try to dig them out and see (and maybe I am way off here) if they compare. When I find them and if they are the same I will post some scans. CLete
Marc asks an excellent question indeed, because construction of the russian pagony is not so different from the soviet ones; the piping in the middle is part of the golden brocade. On the picture here, two separate golden ribbons seems seewed on a red background. The imperial russian shoulderderboards are not pointed for officers. Materials of the fixation system seems of civilian origin.
