Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh silver and parcel gilt ceremonial mace, Brook & Sons, Edinburgh 1896
ED.CS.2014.34
The Mace of the Royal College of Surgeons is of silver and parcel gilt. It measures 35½ inches in length and weighs 76ozs. The head is hemispherical or bowl shaped in form and is divided into three shields by winged cherubs executed in repousse.
The three shields are respectively the arms of the Royal College of Surgeons with the date 1505 below, the arms of the City of Edinburgh which granted the original charter to the College in 1505 and the ancient arms of Scotland at that date.
The head is surmounted by an imperial crown with a jewelled fillet, the forms and details of which have been taken from the ancient crown of Scotland still preserved in the Crown Room at the Castle. Within the fillet and the covering the bowl of the Mace is a plate on which are executed in repousse the Royal Arms of Scotland as at present used.
The Shaft of the Mace is of baluster form and plain. It is divided into two divisions, and a neck band by two large moulded bands decorated with acanthus foliage. The neck band is enriched with three scroll brackets. On the upper portion of the plain rod is engraved this inscription: Presented to the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, by John Struthers, MD, President 1895-97, 20th October 1897.
The foot of the rod is bell shaped, closed with an invented dome decorated with acanthus leaves, and is terminated with an ornamental pendant. The Mace was made by Messrs Brook & Son, 87 George Street, Edinburgh. It is enclosed in a polished oak case lined with blue velvet also made by Brook & Son of Edinburgh.
The College Minute of 20th October 1897 states: “On demitting office as President, (Struthers gave a) gift of a Mace as a mark of his affection for his College of which he has been a Fellow for over half a century. The College thanked him and said the donor’s name would be inscribed on it”.
Nineteenth century, late
