Bidspirit auction | CSA 51st VA Canteen-Cross of

CSA 51st VA Canteen-Cross of Honor Medal Group - This drum style canteen and framed medal and portrait is attributed to Lt. Thomas Neel of the 51st Virginia Infantry. The frame includes original cardboard photo from 1900 with Neel wearing the medal and the medal itself which has is name and unit inscribed on the front cross. The canteen is made of cedar with double iron bands on the rim and has three sling bands going around the outside. Pour spout, stopper and sling are not present. Has small 20th Century museum inventory white painted mark ”111489”. Front is skillfully carved ” ”51ST. VA . INFANTRY”. with 2 decorative star motifs. It is our opinion this canteen carved in a much later era after the war. Size is 7 1/4” diameter by 2.5” It is our opinion, all the carved recesses were filled in with some sort of color at some point and has mostly worn away. The other side has crude X in rectangle and letter ”A”. Condition shows use and wear. Iron hardware shows old rust and discoloration. Wood has no damage cracks or worm holes. The cross was awarded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to honor living Confederate veterans in 1899. The frame is 10.5” to 16.5” and frame house sticker on back is dated 1985. This is one of the display highlights in this Civil War collection.