My Italian WWII-Era Fez and Visor Collection

[dastardly]

I have been collecting these since I was stationed in Italy back in 1994 and have amassed so many that I am running out of room to display them all. I thought that I would share just a few pictures of my display cases with all of you on WAF. In all honesty, these crappy pictures do not do them justice. IMO the most amazing looking headgear of any military on either side of WWII. Enjoy! Chris

[KeithRic]

Not my field, and no, I don't think the photos do them justice, but an amazing collection, beautifully displayed.
Congratulations.
Keith

[jmcm]

Beautiful display.

[Semovente]

Hello dastardly i knew you had some nice kit... but what a Fantastic mouthwatering collection of headdress from Fascist Italy ....
I see many rare items Duce musketeers fez etc ...but the MVSN Chaplins headress catches my gaze !?..i dont recall seein one ever .. only photos of them !!..to me a rare item ..my
Congratulations to you , a fine collection...Semovente

[dastardly]

Hey Semovente. I am honored that an advanced fascist Italian memorabilia collector such as yourself is impressed. As you know, the word "rare" is so over-used when it comes to militaria collecting that I try not to use it very often when describing things. That being said, there are so many headgear examples in this collection (135 total hats) that I have only ever seen/handled one time in my 25 years of collecting Italian fascist headgear. Does that qualify them as being "rare"? You be the judge. Interestingly enough, since I have 3 Chaplain (Cappellano) examples (and I have seen/handled others), I don't consider them rare, nor do I consider the fez of the Moschettieri del Duce rare (they are expensive when they come up for sale, but too many collectors confuse expensive with being rare, like German Knight's Crosses of which over 7,350 were awarded and many more produced). Regarding rarity when looking at certain Italian headgear (especially fezes which were not issue items and could be produced by a local tailor so basically a one-of-a-kind), I ask myself, "How many medical Generals were there in the entire PNF in the 20's and 30's, how many had fezes made for wear, and how many of those fezes survived the war?" Aside from the medical branch, the number of Generals in any of the low-density, obscure branches such as the forestry militia, port & traffic militia, border militia, postal militia, railway militia, etc. had to be minimal so owning a General Officer's fez in any of these branches, especially an early model one with the single hanging plumb/tassel would be a true find. Might I dare say "rare"? I don't collect them because they are "rare", but they sure are hard to find so it makes the hunt even more exciting. I collect them because I am third generation Italian, happened to be stationed in Italy with the U.S. Army, and happened to see one (a fez) in an Italian friend's home that I thought was so beautiful I just had to have one. Now I have got more than one, but the hunt still continues as I have become obsessed with preserving as many as possible during my short stay on this beautiful earth. Again, thank you for your interest and for all collectors who commented on my collection, Chris

[alvin58]

Congratulazione my USA

[Semovente]

Hello dastardly...well thank you for your very kind words although your makin me blush with such a salubrious title as advanced fascist collector !..i feel almost like i should be wearin a Fez of my own !..
I understand totaly what your saying & yes it goes with out saying that a Fez to a smaller unit would maybe be much harder to locate than some of your more dare i say common examples ! like your self collecting militaria i see various headress at fairs etc & i got to say , although it might seem strange perhaps to the man who has had three of them !..... i have never seen a Chaplins hat over here in Britain !?..which i hope explains my reason for me saying 'rare ' because we just dont see them here !?...but if as you said you have lived in Italy it may well be they are eazyier to track down ??..
However my friend all that apart it still leaves me to say dastardly.. that what i said about your fantastic super collection is every bit true & yes i know you collect as myself for the passion/interest of the subject first !..the investment comes second ! ...regards Semovente

[Raffaello Carola]

Chris AMAZING collection! thanks for sharing if possible we can see
some details of those candy . Priest church blackshirts caps are beatifull the
italian name of this particular cap is SATURNO the same name of Saturn planet.
Best
Raff

[ebj]

What can I say but "Wow"! While I have primarily collected TR militaria over the years, I have had the opportunity to own an MVSN dagger w/hanger, a couple dress belts, shoulder straps, fezes, peaked cap and a tunic. IMO Italians are master tailors and their uniform items are the very best bar none!

[Dennis S]

Extremely advanced italian headgear collection ...bravo.

[Semovente]

Extremely advanced italian headgear collection ...bravo.

Yes i think Dennis comments are so very true Chris , well advanced collection !!!...which one is your personal favourite ?...& why ??

[dastardly]

Since I am very partial to fezes, my favorites are always going to be fezes, even though the bullion workmanship on the MVSN leader visors is phenomenal. So I have to say that the first model fezes are my favorites and out of those, the two Medical Console Generale ones (active in red, reserves in black) are stunning and the only ones that I have ever seen in 25 years (see attached). Since a few collectors made comments on my Chaplain headgear (Saturni - thanks Raff), chaplains also wore fezes and I have 2 in my collection (see attached) that also rank up there as favorites (look hard and you will see the superimposed silver bullion cross over the fasces). Then there is the early PNF bustina with patch and gold cord that was used for such a short time (again, the only one I have ever seen). Finally, I have a Moschettieri del Duce bustina that I understand was only worn in 1937 and only while accompanying Mussolini while on foreign visits since it was easier to travel with than the stiff fez they wore (I could be misinformed so if anyone knows better, please let me know). I'm told this bustina is super "rare", but again, I am not going to say it. I only know that I have never seen another and I'm told it should be the highlight of my collection, but with so many nice examples of Italian headgear, I can never designate my "best" piece. Thanks for all of your comments and input, Chris

[101combatvet]

Killer collection.

[Rene Chavez]

Wow wonderful collection love the fezzes especially the musketeer fez thanks for sharing.


Rene Chavez
www.foreignvolunteerlegion.com

[Raffaello Carola]

Chris thanks for sharing! If I remember correctly that your bustina or similar
is photographed in the book by author Belogi "Moschettieri del Duce"
unfortunately now I not have the book in my hands.
best
Raff