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Masonic Franklin Lodge No. 134 Past Master's Jewel with case
1866
Maker not marked
USA: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (probably)
a: silver; b: leather, wool
a: 4-3/4"h x 5-1/2"w x 1/2"d
Special Acquisitions Fund
89.31.1a-b

a: Masonic Franklin Lodge No. 134 jewel. Bar at top has pendant of a square suspended from it; on square's obverse face is engraved a ruler, a plumb level, a trowel, an all-seeing eye, a mallet, and compasses. Second pendant, suspended from inner corner of square pendant, is of triangle with Euclid's 47th problem; in between tools are four-pointed stars, six in total, and pendant is capped by engraved equilateral triangle with eyelet affixed to top; engraved on back is the text, "presented to T. Stewart Brown / by Franklin Lodge / No. 134 / AYM / 1865-66". At top of jewel, suspension bar has vertical loop on reverse for ribbon. b: Leather, black triangular case with red felt lining; base of case is flap with tongue that inserts under leather loop on front of case.


Masonic lodges in Pennsylvania use a distinctive style of jewel based on an English design, a square (the symbol worn by the lodge Master while he is in office) with a representation of a Masonic symbol, the 47th Problem of Euclid, depicted on a plaque suspended from the jewel. Thomas Stewart Brown (1839–1928) received this jewel from Franklin Lodge No. 134 in Philadelphia after serving as Master from 1865 to 1866.