The Gibson Mace

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The Gibson Mace
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The Gibson Mace Full Frontal View.
Catalogue entry QUBSilv/2002058 An 18 carat
gold ceremonial mace. The head of the mace with
four caryatid supports and set with the crest of
the Queens University surrounded by
semi-precious stones. Celtic cross finial and
tapering stem. 33 in. over-all. Inscribed The
gift of William Gibson a citizen of Belfast 1909
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Detail Top Ringed cross displaying the
University coat of arms, semi-precious gems and
engraved interlacing designs. Middle section
displays an embossed eagle, with an oil lamp and
flame above it. Lower ring Embossed picture of
Queen Victoria on her throne with two attendants.
Gems around the circumferences of the rings.
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Middle section of the shaft showing the
caryatids, of which there are four. Each female
figure make a separate gesture. One of them holds
a musical instrument by her feet. Three are
depicted awake, and one with her eyes closed.
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The inscription on the shaft reads The gift of
William Gibson. A citizen of Belfast, November
1909.
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Detail of the lower part of the shaft and the
finial.
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The University Coat of Arms is inset into the
gold. It shows an open Book (symbol of learning),
the seahorse of the city of Belfast, a harp
(symbol of Ireland), a red hand (symbol of the
province of Ulster). The crown in the centre
represents the Queen (i.e. Queen Victoria,
founder of the University).
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The Queen holds a mace in her right hand, and a
cross/parcel in her left. The attendant on her
right holds a ? The one on her left holds a
cross and a book.
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Detail of embossed and punched interlacing pattern
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Detail of Caryatids
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• Inscription on the rear of the ringed cross. It
  reads
• Centre The mace of the Queens University of
  Belfast.
• In the round Charter granted by his most
  gracious majesty King Edward VII.

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• Inscription below the ringed cross. It reads
  Founded 2nd December in the year of our Lord
  1908.

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• Inscription reads The original charter of the
  Queens University in Ireland was granted by Her
  Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria on the 30th
  September 1845.

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Maces Ensigns of Authority

• A mace denotes power. It is a public reminder of
  a social hierarchy stabilized either by force, as
  with early maces, or through ceremony, as with
  maces after about 1500. Possession of a mace
  lends dignity, authority and historical
  authority.
• Maces evolved from medieval metal clubs topped
  with at least four arc-shaped blades designed to
  bear armor. Groups of armed goods,
  sergeants-at-arms, protected the King or Queen
  with maces in hand, the warheads pointing
  upwards. A mace provided the sergeant-at-arms
  with the authority to make an arrest.
• After an act of 1327 forbade citizens to settle
  personal disputed with maces, the right to own a
  mace increasingly depended on rank. The mace took
  on a more ceremonial role coats of arms and
  elaborate decoration diminished its war-like
  appearance. By 1500 the warhead disappeared,
  replaced by a round or flat ended knob. The mace
  turned 180 degrees and over the next 300 years
  the former handle, now facing up, grew into a
  large ornate head expressing the maces civic or
  legal purpose.
• (Information from the Silver Rooms, Victoria and
  Albert Museum, London, 2007)

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The role of the university mace

• The bearer of the mace in academic processions
  guards the Chancellor in the tradition in which
  medieval sergeants-at-arms marched as royal
  bodyguards. The Esquire Bedell bears the mace in
  the Queens academic procession. He or she leads
  the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor into the
  ceremony and puts the mace on a stand on the
  stage, which is the cue for members of the
  academic procession to remove their head dress.
  The Esquire Bedell also looks after the honorary
  graduate, leading him or her out at the end of
  the ceremony. The mace is always present during
  the conferment of degrees.

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Maker

• Mr Gibson, the benefactor who presented the mace
  to Queens, was born in Dromore, County Down in
  1840. He began his career as an apprentice
  watchmaker in North Street, Belfast and
  eventually established his own firm Mssrs. Gibson
  Co. Ltd in 1891, which became the leading
  jewellery firm in the UK. They produced only the
  highest class of goods and the warehouse in
  Donegall Place and Castle Place was the chief
  source of supply in Belfast for everything
  connected with the watch and jewellery trades.
• The Goldsmits and Silversmiths Company of Regent
  Street, London which William Gibson set up in
  1880 joined with Garrards of London in 1952.
  Garrards restored the mace in recent years.