Benito Mussolini's fez
Description
Black felt fez with large metallic gold-on-red perched eagle at the center front. Over the top from front to back and around the wearer's right side is a thick double strand of corde, knotted at the front next to the eagle and at the back right. Black fringe is at the top front of the hat between the cords, somewhat like a loose, draping rooster's comb. A wide, pinkish-orange chevron with a thin, black stripe running through the middle is on the wearer's left side of the hat. A smaller metallic gold-on-red perched eagle is at the chevron's center. On the hat's inside is a wide, brown leather headband and cream-colored cloth lining. A cream-colored silk tassel is stitched to the inside back. Several retailer's, manufacturer's and other inscriptions are embossed on the headband and printed inside the crown.
Object Information
Date Created:
c. 1938-1943
Local ID:
90.117.1
Collection:
Military Collection
Provenance:
This hat was taken from Benito Mussolini's Italian villa when it was occupied by American troops in late April-early May 1945. The hat was one of several items taken as war booty by Jay Francis of Co. K, 85th Mountain Infantry. Francis removed this piece from Mussolini's bedroom closet. Mussolini was the leader of Italy's National Fascist Party for two decades until his ouster during World War II. This hat is of the type he was known to wear and fits the pompous image the Italian dictator presented to the world.
Credit Line:
Gift of Jay H. Francis
Dimensions:
H: 6 3/8 in, W: 7 1/2 in, D: 9 1/2 in
Rights:
No Copyright-United States
