Name

Early American Royal Arch Apron

Origin/date 

US, first half of the 19th century.

A note that came with the apron says it was worn bij General Jonas Mann, General of the Vermont State Militia. (General Mann was born in 1771 and died in 1831). The apron was purchased from the Mann Family Estate.

Material and dimensions

Drawn and painted on silk and gold leaf.  49,53 cm high; 44,45 cm wide.

Description

Apron with hand-painted floral border and circular presentation alternating masonic working tools and stars. In the middle the Tetragrammaton or four-letter Hebrew name for the Lord God Jehovah in masonic cipher.

On the flap in a circular fashion the letters K.S.H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S. (Hiram the Widows Son Sent to King Solomon), know acronym from Royal Arch Masonry.

g Solomon

Provenance

US, The Revolving Vault, Houston, Texas. Auction Februari 28th 2013, lot 251.

Literature

For a similar apron see: Hamilton, John, D., Material Culture of the American Freemasons. Museum of Our National Heritage Lexington, Massachusetts, 1994, p. 111