🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Colonial Masonic Pendant Date

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Looking for any history and an approximate date of a Masonic pendant that a friend found in Nova Scotia this weekend. The picture doesn't do it justice. The gold plating is almost perfect on at least 90% of it. The same site also produced some incredibly well-preserved rat-tail pewter spoons, tombac buttons and a clipped KGII Hibernia.

Thanks,
Dave

 

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[Gulf Coast Pirate]

Interesting take on 'As above, as below'. Congrats!

 

[Blackfoot58]

I’ve not seen this exact item, although I do believe it would be Masonic.
I could guess at several interpretations, but it would only waste space on a post. What size is it? Maybe about 4-6 inches? I would guess it may be a Masonic lodge officer’s jewel, usually worn on a cordon around the neck. If so, the compasses above an equilateral triangle, although symbolic, is unusual to my eye. Very nice item.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks for all of the great information guys.
As far as a picture for size/scale, this is all I have.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Thanks for all of the great information guys.
As far as a picture for size/scale, this is all I have.

View attachment 2085272

That is perfect size for officer’s jewel.

 

[GlowingArtist]

Are you suuure it is really old?

 

[Blackfoot58]

Are you suuure it is really old?

No more sure than you are. 👍🏼

 

[Nathan W]

I think it’s pretty cool, would love to find some mason items

 

[GlowingArtist]

I think it’s pretty cool, would love to find some mason items

I am not sure that they made many on the whole.

 

[Blackfoot58]

I am not sure that they made many on the whole.

You don’t think they made many Masonic items? There are 100s of lodges in the US. Each one of them had/has a full set of jewels. Then there are Masonic rings, about 300 years worth. Now account for all of the Masonic lapel pins, tie clasps, cuff links, etc. Now let’s look at organizations that are affiliated with Masonry: DeMolay, York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shriners, Royal Arch Masons, Rainbow Girls, and the list goes on. I’d be sure that there is a plethora of Masonic items out there. Look up a Masonic Supply Company on line. There are a few and they all have large catalogs, because they keep selling more. However, numbers are down since the haydays of the 49s and 50s. Thanks

 

[creskol]

I think, but not 100% sure, that piece originally was a very early masons level and plummet symbol. Might be a place to start anyway.

 

[Blackfoot58]

I think, but not 100% sure, that piece originally was a very early masons level and plummet symbol. Might be a place to start anyway.

I have never seen either a level or a plumb depicted as such, in Masonry.
The top part is definitely a set of compasses ( to set boundaries) the lower part being an equilateral triangle. This is generally emblematic of Perfect God, as opposed to imperfect man. Please go to a reputable site to see the representation of a level and a plumb throughout Masonic history. 🍀

 

[Blackfoot58]

I have never seen either a level or a plumb depicted as such, in Masonry.
The top part is definitely a set of compasses ( to set boundaries) the lower part being an equilateral triangle. This is generally emblematic of Perfect God, as opposed to imperfect man. Please go to a reputable site to see the representation of a level and a plumb throughout Masonic history. 🍀

Here are the normal representations of the Masonic tools.

 

[creskol]

I have never seen either a level or a plumb depicted as such, in Masonry.
The top part is definitely a set of compasses ( to set boundaries) the lower part being an equilateral triangle. This is generally emblematic of Perfect God, as opposed to imperfect man. Please go to a reputable site to see the representation of a level and a plumb throughout Masonic history. 🍀

You made me question my own sanity so I had to check to see if I was even close.

 

[Blackfoot58]

You made me question my own sanity so I had to check to see if I was even close.View attachment 2085606

The triangle, in this case, is just a frame. The little item on the chain is the plumb. The chain is hanging from an inverted level. Neither of these items are represented in the piece posted by Antiquarian. Also, the triangle you proposed, is not an equilateral. Really no similarity to the one in the original post. But please don’t doubt your sanity. I consider you a true resource. You’ve help me on a lot of topics.

 

[creskol]

The triangle, in this case, is just a frame. The little item on the chain is the plumb. The chain is hanging from an inverted level. Neither of these items are represented in the piece posted by Antiquarian. Also, the triangle you proposed, is not an equilateral. Really no similarity to the one in the original post. But please don’t doubt your sanity. I consider you a true resource. You’ve help me on a lot of topics.

..hence my disclaimer that I was't sure since I was drawing on memory which seems to be on the decline.

 

[Blackfoot58]

..hence my disclaimer that I was't sure since I was drawing on memory which seems to be on the decline.

All things Masonic are kind of a passion of mine. Not that I can’t be wrong sometimes. Still I maintain that I’ve never seen the exact combination exhibited in the original post. There were differences among the several jurisdictions: Grand Lodge of England, Grand Lodge of Canada, etc. These jurisdictions often adapted their own styles and preferences when it came to certain design nuances. That could explain it.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thanks very much for all of your incredible insight here guys, it's been interesting reading your theories about this piece.

I must say Blackfoot58, that you really know your Masonic history. I've never personally found anything Masonic here in Ontario, but I've always been intrigued as to what they represented.

My friend let me know that the property in Nova Scotia where this piece was found, was given as a land grant in the 1770s to Thomas Fitzsimmonds. Fitzsimmonds was a lieutenant with the Argyll Highlanders Regiment (74th Regiment).

Thanks again for your help,
Dave