A Pair of 17th Century Silver Gilt Maces
Because of their great value and rarity this pair are not kept at home, but at a safe and secure location they are shown to intrested bona fide parties by arrangment
This pair of Maces are rare because they are a matching pair dating to circa 1641-42, l have researched these items in great detail and as far as l can find, they could be one of a very few pairs dating to this date.
Maces started life as a weapon of defence, and were used to protect important persons whilst walking through crowds, they started as a club type instrument with pieces of metal sticking out.
This pair were made by Thomas Maundy, a London Goldsmith who made in 1661, (from Jacksons)
" The City Maces" l can only assume these were for London ?
Thomas Maundy entered three marks from the period 1641 to 1661, all his marks have the conjoined T M the difference is in the shield, this mark appears to be his first mark entered in 1641-2
All maces were made to a pattern standardised by Royal decree of Charles 1st (Parliment Order of 1649, instructions for Cities and Towns to obey Maundy's "forme and patterene of Maces') confirmed under the commomwealth ( but substituting an acorn for the orb and cross) and restored under Charles ll, so it is possible this pair started life with an orb and cross, later subsituted with an acorn finial ?
This pair history is a mystery, they "appeared" in 1824, where they were before then is a complete mystery and exhaustive reasearch has sadly drawn a blank.
The inscription reads " The Freedom of England and by Gods Good Blessing Restored 1660"
this was when the monarch King Charles ll was restored to the throne.
This means that if my research and the reading of the makers mark is correct, then this must be a later addition.
Any suggestions always welcome.