Argentina, Republic. A Navy Admiral's (Almirante) Epaulette

(Armada de la República Argentina = ARA). Large, decorative stiff-framed epaulette, upper in very fine yellow embroidery with a smooth finish and trimmed in two rows of gold-coloured rolled wire on the edges of the protruding spine, the outer row in a wavy pattern, the inner row in a twisted pattern. The insignia in the centre in rolled gold-coloured bullion wire, in various textures, consisting of a fouled anchor, with one gold-coloured sequin on the crown of the anchor, fronted by the national emblem of Argentina, the Sun of May (Sol de Mayo), the sun backed by the red Phrygian cap symbolizing the pursuit of liberty, sixteen rays of the sun each incorporating two gold-coloured sequins, the interior lining of the cap in red embroidery. The insignia is framed by two branches, a branch of oak leaves and a branch of laurel leaves, both of which are in gold-coloured rolled wire, with their leaves detailed in fine strands of gold-coloured rolled wire and interlaced with gold-coloured sequins. The wide oval cap has a large raised ridge flanked by two rows that butt it, both the raised ridge and the two rows wrapped in gold-coloured bands and bearing strands in gold-coloured bullion wire, in various textures. There are two rows of tightly-wound bullion wire fringe suspended at the end, the outer rows with twenty-three large coils, the inner row with twenty-two coils, both rows secured by a single strand of gold-coloured wire. The sides and undersides of the boards in black felt, each with two large polished metal clips (passants) allowing the epaulette to be fastened to the shoulder of the uniform tunic. It measures 62 mm in width on the spine, 126 mm in width on the oval cap, 182 mm in length from the neck end to the shoulder end, the outer row of large coils and the inner row of small coils measuring approximately 84 mm and 75 mm in length, respectively. It exhibits scattered soiling on the yellow embroidered upper on the oval cap, along with some discolouration and interruptions in the bullion wire on the fouled anchor, with some wear present on the black felt along the edges of the spine and the oval cap where it butts the spine. Better than very fine.

Footnote: The Argentine Navy is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force. The Argentine Navy Day is celebrated on May 17th, the anniversary of the victory in 1814 at the Battle of Montevideo over the Spanish fleet during the war of Independence. The modern Argentine Navy participates in joint exercises with other friendly navies like Brazil, United States, Spain, France, Canada, South Africa, Italy, Uruguay, and since the 1990s, Chile.