masonic handkerchief

 

Name

Masonic Handkerchief


Origin/date 

USA, around 1817, printed by Gray and Todd, Philadelphia.


Material 

Cotton, plaine weave, copperplate printed.

Dimensions

69 cm x 55 cm


Description

This handkerchief or lecture cloth is white/cream and printed in red with an arrangement of masonic symbols. Central motif is an archway above two columns with a keystone at the middle. The letter “G” hangs from the keystone. An all-seeing eye at the top center is flanked by two scrolls with printed text. A lot of masonic and Royal Arch symbols, along with three male figures fill out the design. There is also a coffin at the center bottom, flanked by verses of a masonic song.

(There exist several versions of this design, see literature.)


Provenance

UK, private dealer.


Literature

  1. 1.Scottisch Rite Masonic Museum of our National Heritage. Bespangled Painted &

    Embroidered. Decorated Masonic Aprons in America, 1980, pp. 30.

  1. 2.One can find a similar but slightly different version at:

    http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/lecture_cloth_1806.htm

3. For a similar item: Le grand livre illustré du patrimoine maçonnique,    

    Paris, Le Cherce midi, 2011, p. 263.