Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Knights Templar Chapeau-de-bras
1879-1914
The C.G. Braxmar Company
USA: New York, New York
Silk, bullion, feather, metal, leather, ink
6-1/2"h x 6"w x 17"d
Gift of Dorset Provincial Museum and Library, Parkstone, Poole, UK
2016.018.4

Chapeau-de-bras, Knights Templar Regalia. EXTERIOR: Chapeau-de-bras composed of black silk plush (likely) throughout its body. At center front, gold bullion tassel is applied; its ball features a basketweave design, and there is a band of five narrow coils of bullion underneath, with multiple wider coils of bullion extending vertically downward below them which are affixed to the front edge of the hat. Above tassel, white ostrich feathers run along top of hat and down back side to extend slightly from back end of hat. Over feathers, two rigid strips join sides at top, one near the front and the other near the back; they are covered in tan cotton (possibly) fabric tape decorated with short white diagonal lines. PR side decorated with central 4"-diameter black silk floret that has gold bullion Templar cross with maroon silk velvet applied inside arms and a small gold sequin at center; on either side of floret, 1-3/8"-wide gold metallic ribbon is applied diagonally, angled outwards from the bottom edge of the side. PL side decorated with 1-3/8"-wide gold metallic ribbon like PR side but with no floret. INTERIOR: Black silk satin lining bears central manufacturer's stamp in gold ink: it features a double-headed eagle with a cross through a crown at top, a tiger claw and star emblem at center held in eagles' mouth by chains, and a wreath with radiating rays behind; under the eagles' feet on a banner is the text, "MANUFACTURED BY / [on a rectangular panel] THE C. G. BRAXMAR CO. / NEW [a square and compasses with a G at center] YORK / TRADE MARK". Along sides, black silk lining is pleated. Brown leather sweatband along rim features small off-white silk bow at front seam.