Royal Naval uniform: pattern 1846-56

From 1846-56, mates wore a single epaulette with a silver anchor insignia on their right shoulder. The epaulette is of gold lace over sheet metal with a crescent of twisted gold purl, alternating bright and dark over a wood core. The silver anchor is of base metal. It has a double row of 40 loose bullions. On the underside, the strap is lined with leather, while the crescent is lined with padded blue velvet. There is a maker’s label on the back which shows a garter with the motto ‘TRUE UND FEST’, encircling the following inscription: ‘WIDDOWSON & VEALE,/Goldsmiths & Jewellers/TO H.R.H./PRINCE ALBERT,/73, STRAND, LONDON.’