Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Shrine Royal Order of Jesters Statuette - Jester with Billiken Doll
1995
Maker not marked
China
Synthetic resin, paint, synthetic fiber, metal, paper, ink
overall: 9"h x 4-3/4"w x 4-1/4"d
Gift of Richard V. Travis
2017.053.4

Masonic Shrine Royal Order of Jesters Statuette - Jester with Billiken Doll. Painted, cast synthetic resin (likely) statuette of jester. Figure wears a cerise-colored jester's hat featuring three points tipped with gold balls which hang down the sides and back. He wears a long-sleeved, open jacket painted purple; its collar is lavender and across its back hem are three hanging gold balls. His shirt underneath is white, and his belt black with a round gold buckle. He wears lavender stockings and cerise-colored boots with pointy, upturned toes. Figure holds out in front of him a gold Royal Order of Jesters Billiken with a cerise-colored head wrap. Base of statuette is 3/4" thick, trapezoidal (smaller side across the back), and painted purple; stamped across its front is the word, "AFFECTION". Set into base between this word and figure's feet is a gold medallion with a raised line around its rim and a central image of the Billiken dressed as a pirate holding a sword; above this image, the raised text, "PHOENIX COURT 17 / NATE'S MATES", and below it, "Pirates Of MIRTH / 087 [stamped] of 750 / NATE BOYER DIR. 1995". Bottom of base is lined with green velvet (likely synthetic) that has an ovaloid gold sticker in the center reading, "MADE IN CHINA" in black letters.