Gorgeous WWI US Air Service Military Aeronaut aka Balloon Pilot Wing Pinback in Heavy Bullion

What we have here is another beautiful wing from the Putnam Green Collection. This one did NOT come from the Duncan Campbell Collection Auction in San Francisco, and I don't have any other history on it, Biographical or otherwise. 

But, what a beautiful wing! The heavy bullion is piled high on this one, creating a bass relief / 2-dimensional effect...when one flips the wing over, one almost expects to see the other half of the balloon protruding from the back side! the wing has light wear: some of the extremely delicate tinsel has let go from the shroud lines on the balloon, but instead of detracting, it almost makes them look like actual rope shroud lines! All the points of the woven black (now a dark hue of purple after the passing of a century plus) backing material have some form of wear or break through, but this is to be expected, and it is very subtle and does not detract. 

We don't know who the maker of this gorgeous wing was, but they were rather prolific at making Jr. Military Aviator wings in the same fashion, with the same heavy, thick, wings. 

A beautiful addition to any WWI Aviation Collection, whether yo are trying to collector every variation of wings, or just want one GREAT example of a Balloon Pilot wing!