Fort Pitt Blockhouse Souvenir Inkwell

This Fort Pitt Blockhouse souvenir inkwell is an interesting piece of early 20th-century commemorative glass, blending local Pittsburgh history with fraternal symbolism.

Physical Description

• Form: The inkwell is a glass miniature of the historic Fort Pitt Blockhouse, featuring a pentagonal (five-sided) base representing the brick redoubt and a removable, pitched “roof” that acts as the lid.
• Material: It is made of heavy pressed glass. The lower “brick” section is cold-painted in a reddish-orange hue with a gray “stone” foundation, while the roof/lid is painted dark gray or black to simulate shingles.
• Construction: The lid lifts off to reveal a deep, circular well integrated into the glass blockhouse base.

Fraternal & Historical Inscriptions

The lid of the inkwell is heavily embossed with specific text and iconography related to the Knights Templar (K.T.):

• Iconography: A prominent Crown and Passion Cross—the primary emblem of the Knights Templar—is embossed at the peak of the front roof panel.
• Text: Below the symbol, the glass is embossed with:

“DUQUESNE / COMMANDERY No. 72 / K T / PITTSBURGH PA”

• Base Inscription: The glass bottom of the base includes embossed historical text commemorating the original structure:

“BLOCK HOUSE / A.D. 1764 / Coll. Bouquet / PITTSBURGH”

Historical Context & Significance

• Origin: This inkwell was commissioned for the Duquesne Commandery No. 72, a constituent commandery of the Knights Templar based in Pittsburgh.
• The Occasion: Based on the date often associated with these pieces (1906), it was likely produced for the 29th Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, which was a massive fraternal gathering.
• The Landmark: The Fort Pitt Blockhouse (also known as Bouquet’s Redoubt) is the only surviving structure of Fort Pitt and the oldest building in Western Pennsylvania. Its preservation was a point of significant local pride in the early 1900s after it was gifted to the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) in 1894.
• Masonic Connection: The historical link between the blockhouse and Isaac Craig (a founding member of Lodge No. 45) made the building a relevant symbol for Pittsburgh Masons and Knights Templar.