Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2023.027.001 |
Object Name |
Fez |
Title |
Crescent Temple Sparkling Fez |
Description |
The fez is burgundy and cylindrical, with a bedazzled inscription on the front. At the top of the inscription is the word "CRESCENT," made of silver plastic gems. Below the word, there is a sword, also made of plastic gems. The sword's gems are mostly white, with two red gems at the top and bottom of the hilt, two blue gems on the left and right sides of the hilt, and one red gem at the center of the sword. Below the sword is a crescent moon and a star. The crescent is made primarily of silver plastic gems, with blue gems on the left and right sides of the pharaoh's head and red gems below it. The star is also mainly silver, with a red gem in the center. At the middle of the crescent, above the star, is the head and torso of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. The pharaoh's head is not bedazzled, but features brown skin, the outline of a nose, lips, and eyes, a gold nemes with red and blue stripes, and a gold armor plate. The pharaoh is surrounded by the crescent, and the crescent itself is detailed with blue and red gems around the figure. There are tassels at the top of the fez, consisting of thick black strings that spill over the side. The tassels are held in place by two straps. The first strap is thick, adorned with many plastic gems. The first row of gems is blue, the next three are silver, and the last row is red. The second strap is thinner and features a single row of silver plastic gems. The top of the fez has several tiny holes, arranged in four circular patterns. At the center of the top, there is an elevated cylinder with two thick black strings attached to the right tassels. The bottom of the fez is open, revealing the inside, which is mostly white. The rim of the inside is brown with a bow at the bottom. The fabric inside is softer than the rest of the fez, and there is a plastic covering on the top of the inside. A black dot at the center of the top corresponds to the elevated cylinder. The number "7 1/4" is written on the side of the inside. According to Elma Lawson Johnston of the Trenton Historical Society, the Crescent Temple was founded by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), now known as Shriners International, an American Masonic society. The Salaam Temple, established in 1902 in Newark, NJ, was granted jurisdiction over the entire state of New Jersey. George W. Weidenmayer of the Salaam Temple instituted the Crescent Temple on November 17, 1904. The building pictured was completed on June 24, 1916. At its peak, the building had a capacity for approximately 4,000 people, including a banquet hall that could seat 2,600 at once, and a stage measuring 60 by 75 feet. According to the Shriners International website, Shriners International, originally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, was founded in 1870 by 13 Masons during a meeting at Knickerbocker College in New York City. The group aimed to combine the principles of Freemasonry with elements of fun and fellowship. Initially, Shriners were associated with Middle Eastern culture and symbols, but following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, much of the Middle Eastern imagery was removed. Shriners are known for wearing a fez, a hat popular in Morocco, during their meetings. The sword on their logo represents the members, the crescent moon represents philanthropy, the pharaoh (or sphinx) symbolizes governance, and the five-pointed star represents the children the organization helps. Today, there are approximately 195 Shriners temples worldwide. Citations About Shriners. Shriners International. (n.d.). https://www.shrinersinternational.org/en/who-we-are/about-shriners Johnston, E. L. (n.d.). Social and Fraternal Organizations. Trenton Historical Society, New Jersey. https://www.trentonhistory.org/His/Social.html |
Year Range from |
1904 |
Year Range to |
1954 |
Material |
Felt, Plastic |
Artist |
Unknown |
Height (in) |
6.000 |
Diameter (in) |
6.000 |
Condition |
Very Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Tiny pieces of fuzz throughout Front: There are tiny pieces of fuzz all over the fez. The stitching on the bottom is slightly interrupted near the middle. Right Side: There are tiny pieces of fuzz all over the fez. Back: There are tiny pieces of fuzz all over the fez. Left Side: There are tiny pieces of fuzz all over the fez. Top: There are pieces of tiny fuzz all over the fez. Bottom: There is nothing of note. |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Embroidered |
Inscription Text |
"CRESCENT" Line 1 Bottom, Inside, Bottom Side Blue Ink "7 1/4" |
People |
George W. Weidenmayer |
Classification |
Churches & Temples Social & Personal Activity |
Subjects |
Clothing & dress Clothing industry Hats Architecture Buildings Clubs Clubhouses Masonic buildings Masonry |
Search Terms |
Fez Red Shrinners Tassel Bedazzled Egyptian Middle East Architecture Blue White 7 1/4 1904 1954 20th Century Trenton Black Crescent Temple White Platic Felt Crescent Star Sword Nemes Pharaoh Middle East Sphinix Claws Scimitar Jonathan Conner George W. Weidenmayer Crescent Temple Sparkling Fez Free Mason Masonry Hat |
Provenance |
This item was donated to the library by Jonathan Conner. It became apart of the Museum Collection in August of 2023. |