Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Oval Table
ca. 1873
Maker not marked
USA: New Hampshire, Concord
Mahogany, wood
overall: 31"h x 17-1/2"w x 24-1/4"d
Special Acquisitions Fund
87.18

Oval table; Top: oval, designs in wood inlay; center: cross on three temple steps, inside a triangle, below base of triangle is date "5873"; triangle and date enclosed by a circle with makes sunburst; surrounding sunburst are 4 stars, letter G, crescent moon, trowel, maul, square and compasses, ladder with letters "FHC"; encircling are 16 line bars and a continuous checkered bar design; table top has molded edge; pedestal base: four brackets rest on four bracket legs and feet; wood line, doweled in, acorn pendant drops and four identical (two missing) acorn reversed pendants; on sides of brackets are 24 inlaid wood, geometric, concentric squares.

Members of Blazing Star Lodge No. 11 in Concord, New Hampshire, used this inlay-decorated table in their lodge room. The Masonic symbols, such as a square and compasses, Jacob ’s Ladder and others, decorating this table helped underscore the lessons members learned in the lodge. For more information, see Hamilton, John D., "Material Culture of American Freemasons," 1994, p. 66.