Figure 1.--Frogging was another military style. Frogging was ornamental braid used as elabirate jacket fastenings produced by spindle-shaped buttons and loops. The frogging was fsr more elsbiraste thasn wehst was needed dor closuing the jacket. The frogging was often done in luxurious materials such as gold, silver or brass metallic cording or brocades. We see boys wearing jackets with frogging as well as material patches used to emulate frogging. The military frogging could be hugely elaborate, much more elasborate than what we see being done in boys' jackets. Frogging was not common for boy's clothing, but we see examples on boys' suit jackets in the the 1860s-70s. The frogging for boys' clothing was much less elaborate. /i>

Frogging was another military style. Frogging was ornamental braid used as elaborate jacket fastenings produced by spindle-shaped buttons and loops. The frogging was fsr more elsbiraste thasn wehst was needed dor closuing the jacket. The frogging was often done in luxurious materials such as gold, silver or brass metallic cording or brocades. The origins of the style was European, but we do not known which country. It was used by all the major European powers. It was used in elaborate military uniforms. We see boys wearing jackets with frogging as well as material patches used to emulate frogging. The military frogging could be hugely elaborate, much more elasborate than what we see being done for boys' jackets. Frogging was not common for boy's clothing, but we see examples on boys' suit jackets in the the 1860s-70s. The origins of the style was European, but we do not known which country. It was used by all the major European powers. It was used in elaborate military uniforms. Frogging appears for European military uniforms (17th century). No oner knows why it is called frogging. One thory is that it was an extensiion for the didparuing English nane for the French --"Frogs". And it may have reflcted the use iof frogging in French uniforms. Of course th English would also adopt it to decorate their uniforms. Frogging was most commonly seen on military uniforms (19th century). It is largely associated with the Napoleonic era into the mid-19th century). This is when we begin to see boys wearing jackets with frogging or decoration emulasting frogging. A good example is an unidentified American boy on a seaside vacation, we think in the 1870s. Another example is the Peacocks in Scotland. Frogging was most common with prestigious regiments, especially cavalry or hussar units such as the famous British light brigadeled by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War (1854). It was made famous by a Tennyson poem. The German term reflects the associatuin with prestigious regiments -- Husarentressen. We begin to see frogging with Amrican boys in the early-1860s (figure 1). The reason of course is this is when the Civil War took place and the country was conumed by war. The portrait here was taken about 1864 which we know because there was a revenue stamp on the back. Military iniforms continued to use frogging into the early 20th century and later fir dress uniforms, but after the 1870s, we rarely see boys wearing jackets with frogging.

Created: 9:00 PM 10/6/2008
Last updated: 4:51 AM 4/19/2010