Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Knights Templar Cap
1909-1914
Brooks Uniform Co.
USA: New York, New York
Silk, cotton, metal, paper, leather, plastic, ink
4-1/2"h x 8"w x 10"d
Gift of Dorset Provincial Museum and Library, Parkstone, Poole, UK
2016.018.5

Cap, Knights Templar Regalia. EXTERIOR: Cap composed of black silk with flat, circular top and straight sides. Gold-colored metallic ribbon, 1-1/2" wide, sewn around base of hat. At front center, a templar cross is applied which has gold bullion edges and maroon velvet (likely silk) interior. At front of hat where body meets brim, there is a double length of gold-colored metal cording with decorative square knots on either side; it is fastened to hat with gold-colored cast metal buttons that feature Knights Templar emblem (passion cross through crown with radiating rays above) in center, and the raised text, "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" arranged in circular fashion around edge. Brim of hat, which is rounded and set at a downward angle, is black and features irregular, rough texture (likely paperboard with black plastic coating). At top of sides of hat, two ventilation holes on either side are reinforced with black plastic-coated metal grommets. INTERIOR: Black silk lining features criss-cross quilting to material covering top; in center, manufacturer logo is stamped in gold ink: [inside decorative frame] "Brooks Uniform Co. [in cursive] / 143 WEST 40TH ST. / NEW YORK." Brown leather sweatband, 2" wide, sewn all the way around base, with off-white silk ribbon tied in a bow at top of center seam and round white sticker with scalloped edges, 1/2" in diameter, affixed to side with "7 1 / 4" (arranged so that the 1 is directly over the 4 with no line in between) stamped on it in red ink with red ink surround. Brim features green coating (likely plastic) with ribbed texture.