1950s Italian Police Senior Officer Horsehide Leather Trench Coat

This coat carries authority through material and cut rather than insignia. Commissioned in Rome during the 1950s for senior Italian police service, it expresses rank through weight, proportion and disciplined construction. The scale and sweep set it decisively apart from standard issue garments.

Inside, the original Giusti Roma, Piazza Trevi label anchors the coat in central Rome, a mark of city tailoring rather than factory issue.

The leather presents as dense mid century horsehide with excellent fibre integrity. Chrome tanning was widespread by the 1950s, yet this hide does not display the flat, heavily processed character of later production. It is more consistent with a blended or combination tanning approach common in European uniform leather of the period, likely chrome based with a vegetable re-tan. The result is durability and weather resistance with retained depth of grain and natural sheen.

The surface shows controlled fold memory and honest creasing developed through age, yet the structure remains strong and balanced. There is no thinning, cracking or weakness. The leather holds form and presence. All seams remain secure and stable.

Cut long and full through the skirt, the silhouette is deliberate and commanding. Raglan sleeves allow natural movement through the shoulders, while underarm gussets provide forward reach consistent with mounted or vehicle use. The high stand collar secures with a reinforced throat latch designed to close firmly in wind and adverse weather.

The double breasted front fastens with moulded composite buttons mounted on internal metal shanks, a durable and service-led construction typical of official garments. The waist belt remains original, threaded through stitched leather loops and secured with a framed buckle. Reinforced stitching at stress points is deliberate and functional rather than decorative.

Inside, the coat is finished with a substantial wool melton lining, dense and insulating in keeping with mid century official tailoring. The lining remains clean and structurally stable, showing only light wear commensurate with age. It reinforces the coat’s intended use in colder conditions while maintaining balance through the body.

The entire garment has been specialist leather cleaned to remove decades of surface soiling and residual odours. Conditioning has been carried out sparingly using our workshop blend dressings, preserving suppleness while maintaining original tone and character. It presents clean, stable and ready for long term ownership.

Overall condition is excellent for a 1950s service garment. The leather retains structure, the seams remain strong, and the coat stands as an increasingly scarce example of mid century Italian senior police tailoring.

Perfect for the collector, display and occasional wear.

Key Identifying Features

• 1950s Italian Police senior officer trench coat
• Giusti Roma Piazza Trevi tailor’s label
• Dense mid century horsehide leather
• Combination tanned for service durability
• Double breasted front with moulded composite shank buttons
• Reinforced throat latch closure
• High stand collar
• Full waist belt with stitched leather loops and framed buckle
• Raglan sleeve construction
• Underarm breathable gussets
• Wool melton liner
• Deep skirt sweep consistent with senior rank tailoring
• Internal storm cuffs
• Strong seams and stable structural integrity

Garment Measurements Laid Flat

• Chest (armpit to armpit): 25.5"
• Shoulders (raglan – approximate equivalent): 23"
• Sleeve length (collar seam to cuff): 33"
• Sleeve length (underarm seam to cuff): 17.5"
• Back length (collar seam to hem): 37"
• Waist (laid flat, belt relaxed): 26.5"

Best suited to a 46 inch chest / XL frame, regular fit. Please compare measurements with a similar garment to ensure correct fit.