Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Shrine Fez, Bektash Bingo Chairman, with Plastic Insert
a: ca. 1990-2020; b: 1977-2020
a: D. Turin and Company; b: Skipco Inc.
a: USA: Florida, Hialeah; b: USA: Ohio, Cambridge
a: wool, synthetic fiber, synthetic leather, plastic, rhinestones, bullion, metal, enamel, ink; b: plastic
a: 7-1/2"h x 7-1/2"w x 6-1/2"d; tassel: 17"l; b: 5-1/2"h x 7-1/2"dia.
Gift of Edward N. Lewis
2020.037.19a-b

Masonic Shrine Fez, Bektash Bingo Chairman. a: Fez composed of maroon wool (likely) with a black synthetic fiber (likely) tassel. Applied to front is a Shrine emblem (scimitar, tiger claws, sphinx head, and star) surrounded by the text "BEKTASH" (above) and "BINGO CHAIRMAN" (below). Entire composition done in iridescent, green, or red rhinestones with white plastic bezels; at center, gold-colored metal Sphinx head decorated with yellow, red, green, and white enamel stripes; gold bullion trim around "BEKTASH" and Shrine emblem. Tassel secured to PL side of fez with two pins set with rhinestones: upper pin, which mimics tiger-claw shape, has black fabric backing and silver-colored metal trim around design in iridescent, red, and green stones with white plastic bezels; bottom pin features line of colorless rhinestones in flexible silver-colored metal setting with larger stones at either end. At top of fez, four sets of vent holes in concentric rings. Inside fez, off-white rectangular synthetic fiber manufacturer's label attached with adhesive; printed in black on it is the text "D. TURIN & CO., INC. / HIALEAH, FLORIDA / www.dturin.com". Handwritten in black above this, "BOB ST. JACQUES". On opposite side, small white sticker has black printed text on it, "DT&CO. [stylized] 7 1/2 / D. Turin & Co., Florida". Brown vinyl sweatband sewn inside opening of hat. Silver-colored metal pin at top center which secures tassel. b: Red plastic insert in shape of fez has eight flat, flared "legs" down sides and, at top, four trapezoidal windows surrounding central round hole. Raised text running around inside of top of insert reads, "STEVE SKAPURA SHELDON INVENTOR U.S. PATENT NO 243129 1/25/77 LORE CITY OHIO JUDY ANN SHELDON SKIPCO. INC. CAMBRIDGE OHIO".