Masonic Gavel of Relic Wood from Pennsylvania State Capitol
Pennsylvania: 1903
12.5 inches long; 4.75 inches head
$750

Unique hand-carved folk art gavel.  It is at once a relic gavel and a Masonic presentation gavel.  Carved from the wood of the first Pennsylvania State Capitol building, which was destroyed in a fire in 1897, the gavel was presented to a leader of the Masonic lodge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1903.   The head of the gavel is carved with the Masonic square and compass symbol and the lodge's name on a hatchwork ground.  The shaft of the handle is a barley twist design with information about the Capitol in raised lettering.  The handle end bears the name of F.J. Smith, the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, in a belt and buckle design against hatchwork ground.   The gavel was obtained from an estate in the Paxtang neighborhood of Harrisburg in which there were other Masonic objects and certificates that indicated that the full name of the gavel's original owner was Frederick J. Smith, and that he served as Worshipful Master from 1903 to 1904.

Raised carving on head:  Harrisburg Lodge 629 (with insignia)

Raised carving on shaft:  “From the Old Capitol of PA/ Erected May 31, 1819/ Fire Feb 2, 1897.”

Raised carving on handle:  FJ Smith WM [worshipful master] 1903