South Carolina Mace of the House of Representatives

A Mace is the emblem of authority for the House of Representatives. It has been the custom every day, since 1880, upon the opening of session, for the Sergeant-at-Arms to bear the mace ahead of the Speaker and lay it upon it's specially prepared rack on the Rostrum in front of the Speaker. The Mace remains on it's rack until recess or adjournment. When the House and Senate meet in a Joint Assembly the Mace is always borne at the head of the procession.

The Mace was made in London, in 1756, by Magdalen Feline. It was purchased by the "Commons House of Assembly of the Province of South Carolina" for 90 guineas. Around the cylindrical head, below the crown, are four circular decorative panels. The four panels depict art work that is representational of craftsmanship from England, France, Ireland and Germany. Made of solid silver, with gold burnishing, it resembles the Mace of the Common Council of Norwich, England. The Mace weighs about 11 pounds and it is scepter-like in appearance. It is topped with a symbolic royal diadem that was modelled after the Crown of St. Edward. At some point in the fourteenth century the idea of the battle-mace was combined with that of the royal scepter, and the ceremonial mace was conceived.

During the night of February 3, 1971, the Mace was taken from the locked glass enclosure. On Feb. 24, 1971, it was recovered in Gainsville, Fla., by Chief J.P. Strom of SLED and returned to the House of Representatives, where it is displayed in a vault.

The South Carolina House of Representatives Mace is the oldest legislative mace in use in the United States.

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Courtesy of State of South Carolina

Image by Art Explosion 600,000.