Fez Value Guide

This early 20th-century Moroccan fez stands out with its rare black velvet construction and vibrant turquoise tassel. While traditionally red, this specific piece features intricate silk thread embroidery that highlights its ceremonial significance.

What Is Fez Worth?

The typical price range for Fez is $100 - $150 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The condition of the velvet, specifically the lack of crushing, balding, or fading.
• The complexity and preservation of the ornate embroidered emblem and silk threading.
• The rarity of the black and turquoise color scheme compared to the standard crimson red.

How to Identify Fez?

• Look for the truncated cone shape made of a stiff felt base covered in high-quality black velvet.
• Examine the embroidery for hand-stitched silk thread patterns characteristic of early 1900s Moroccan craftsmanship.
• Verify the presence of a genuine turquoise-colored silk tassel attached to the center of the crown.

History of Fez

The fez is a felt cap in the shape of a truncated cone, typically red, with a tassel. It gets its name from the city of Fez, Morocco, where the dye for the cap was extracted from crimson berries. The fez became a symbol of Ottoman modernity in the 19th century, replacing the turban, but was later banned in Turkey in 1925 as part of Atatürk's reforms. Outside of Turkey, it has been adopted by various fraternal organizations and continues to be worn in many parts of the world as a cultural or ceremonial headpiece.