Red Fez Hat with Pipe

This novelty inkwell is made of metal, designed in the form of a red fez hat with a black tassel, placed atop a pipe bowl, with the stem of the pipe extending horizontally.

Description of the Inkwell:

• Form and Material: The inkwell’s main body is shaped to resemble a traditional red fez hat, complete with a black tassel that drapes over the side. Made of metal with a painted finish, the pipe bowl is integrated into the base, with the pipe stem extending from the bowl.
• Color and Detail: The fez is painted a deep red, with the black textile tassel contrasting sharply. The pipe bowl and stem have a earthy brown color.
• Functionality:
  • The fez hat serves as the primary lid for the inkwell. It is designed to lift off, revealing the ink reservoir beneath.
  • Inside, there is an additional, smaller screw-off lid, also made of nickeled metal, which provides a tighter, more secure seal for the ink.

Information on Origin and Association:

Based on the design, particularly the fez hat:

• Fraternal Organization Association (Shriners): The most direct and strong association for a fez hat in Western culture, especially as a novelty item, is with the Shriners International (formerly the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine). The red fez with a black tassel is the official and most distinctive headwear of the Shriners, a Masonic fraternity founded in 1870. Their rituals and symbolism incorporate a Near Eastern theme, which is why the fez was adopted. Novelty items featuring the fez, like this inkwell, were very common for members to display their affiliation or for the general public to purchase as commemorative items related to the organization’s public events and parades.