COIFFURES. Major General's scarf-shaped kepi in madder-color - Lot 170

COIFFURES. Major General's scarf-shaped kepi in madder-colored cloth, headband in fine black cloth embroidered with two rows of oak leaves, gilded soutaches, inner cap in daffodil silk, brown leather headband with drawstring, handwritten inscription on bottom "Gal Brunet". This kepi belonged to General Jules BRUNET, "the last Samurai". Jules Brunet (1838-1911), born in Belfort, was a polytechnician in the class of 1855. He took part in the Mexican expedition of 1862-1864, then joined the Guard artillery regiment. In 1866, he took part in the military mission sent to Japan to train the Shogun army, and after a series of ups and downs and about-faces on the part of French diplomats, he resigned his post and stayed on to fight the Mikado troops with the Shogun. He was eventually forced to leave Japan to avoid being taken prisoner. Reintegrated into the army a few months later, he took part in the 1870 war and was taken prisoner at Metz. After serving as a military attaché in Austria and Italy, he was appointed brigadier general in 1891 and divisional general in 1898, before being appointed chief of staff to General Chanoine, Minister of War and a former comrade from his mission to Japan. His fictionalized character is played by Tom Cruise in Edward Zwick's 2003 film "The Last Samurai".