Masonic Victorian brooch with pendant
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In our trade of antique jewelry we frequently come along pieces that once were made (and bought) for their symbolic meaning. Over the years (and generations) the knowledge of those specific symbols faded away and what remains is “just a pretty piece”. As was the case with this jewel.
We had this brooch on-line for about a month when we received a mail from a customer explaining us the history of this jewel. He told us that this is not “just a pretty brooch” but a jewel that was given to the spouses of English Freemasons who contributed to the Royal Masonic Hospital. The men were given a silver ribbon jewel. Eventually the use of precious metals was abandoned in favor of silver and gold colored base metals. The last of these jewels were handed out around the 1950's.
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, with around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland alone, and just under two million in the United States. The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.
Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be
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