"ACW Drum Major's mace?" Topic

I have an Essex Miniatures 15mm Union band i am painting up, and i was wondering what colour to paint the Drum Major's mace.

Any one know what colours i should paint it?

Good question – I believe that some were metal or at least had a metal head – I have the dubious distinction of carrying one at our university convocation every year (the benefits of tenure are beyond number) and it is metallic silver

Check out the following link that shows a Don Troiani painting of a Union band suggesting the staff was light brown wood with a silver top. Given Mr Troiani's reputation for reserach this would appear to be correct

link

However to cloud the issue here is a link to Art Girona miniatures showing a Union Drum major with a dark wooden staff

link

Good links Mapleleaf, do you think the miniature figure is based on the painting? Seems to happen alot with Mr Troiani' work.

Many thanks for the replies and the links – the first link will also help with the other musicians i am painting up.

:-)

At the 125th anniversary reenactment of Gettysburg there was a fellow who had been loaned an original mace from a museum to carry at the reenactment. It had actually been made from part of a flag staff which had been shot in two during the Mexican War (it belonged to a regiment of Regulars). As I recall it was dark wood topped with brass.

The staff ScottWashburn is refering to was an original from the U.S. 2nd Infantry. It was made from a broken U.S. flagg staff and the head was silver with an engraved eagle on top made from melting a Mexican officer's tea service obtained at the Battle of Chapultepec. This particular staff was carried by the ranking NCO not a band implement at all. I was one of the original members of the 2nd U.S.-a great reenactinment and living history unit. During the 125th events we invited the Colonel of the current 2nd U.S. to participate and he brought the "staff" along as it was carried by the 2nd duing the Civil War.