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This section is under draft. 9-23-19
GWI 14 -B FEDERAL EAGLE & ESTOILE WITH REEDED BORDER
Masonic Lodge Member Variation With Reeded Border
Color: An Orangish-Red Hue.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Stamped Design, Gilt Brass?
Size: 31.63mm.
Rarity: R-7
Variety Type: 14-B, 32mm.
Present Condition: An Excavated Specimen, Fair Planchet Condition, A Good Impression Remains.
Obverse Button Analysis:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat one-piece button with a soldered on loop shank. The shank is original, and still present, but crushed inward. The reverse shows a porous surface with corrosion.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 14 B-1:
History: Yes Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location: ~ New York ~
The Isabela Collection.~
The Face bears a Radiant Eye of Providence which suggests it is as a Masonic related artifact. If I had to guess, I would say it may have been made at the order of the London Masonic High Council, a specific influential Master Mason, or perhaps a specific Lodge.
Robert Scot invented the eye of providence for grand architect design. Could this be a GWI maker earlier.GWIB were sold everywhere in the 13 colonies, and were in journals and sold through garment magazines. You are looking through the wrong lens. You are looking for a maker mark on the back. Why is there none is the question you are not asking. The New Republic cannot not have a British birth certificate. its back is clean. Hence, Robert Scot used his artisan associations who went and were trained in his fathers lodge. hence, know tell me the maker?
Due to my searching for backmarks I have paid for access to all of the major newspaper archives including 18th century. During the past several years, I have searched every single page that pops up with references form my complex searches, for any even slight refernces to GWIBs, even in the stolen clothing ads and jewelers ads etc, it is very telling that there is not even a single one in any of the period documents. That tells me that it was a secret then who made them, and that they were not sold thru commercial channels, probably sold in Lodges to approved members. They were NOT marketed.
I do think I have figured out where and upon what occasions they were primarily worn though……
The early Masons has very good OPSEC. If anyone ever found production records they would be encrypted.
Listen closely to me and solve the 235 year old mystery. Robert Scot made the dies in America. He shipped them to England to be produced. I gave you a treat in a puzzle. Who were these men before 1797? Where can Robert Scot have buttons made using his masonic connections. Why masonic? His father George Scot was the master and founder of cannongate lodge. Mecca of all artisans in Europe. Artisans don’t care about politics. They are all royals themselves but indirect bloodlines. Tell me who made the inaugural buttons?
GWIB were sold everywhere in the 13 colonies, and were in journals and sold through garment magazines by the sellers, not the manufacturers. You are looking through the wrong lens. You are looking for a maker mark on the back. Why is there none is the question you are not asking. The New Republic cannot not have a British birth certificate. its back is clean. Hence, Robert Scot used his artisan associations who went and were trained in his fathers lodge. hence, know tell me the maker?
1790’s-1815 MASON FRATERNITY KING AND CONSTITUTION WITH EYE OF PROVIDENCE
Color: Yellowish Brown Encrustations With Dark Brown Undertones.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 15.87mm. Cuff Size
Rarity: R-7 ( 1-2 known)
Present Condition: An Excavated Specimen, Good Planchet Condition, A Strong High Relief Pattern Remains.
Robert’s Notes: This no doubtably is a Mason fraternity button from the beginning of the 19th Century. This button was found with other 1801-1815 English and French Regiment buttons on a battle site (Possibly from the Peninsular War). The use of the “All-Seeing-Eye” suggests a Masonic lodge association. There is evidence in other art that all seeing eye was used in certain Scottish-Mason fraternities in America up until the Civil War. Warren Tice depicts a later variation to this earlier King & Constitution specimen on page 519 ( UU210-A). This button was excavated in Spain, which leads me to believe that it was a Scottish Mason fraternity button. Possibly from a lodge that was loyal to the House of Stuart. Spain was a country that exiled Scottish nobles fled to in the 18th century after the Preston rebellion in England. The button depicts the Eye of Providence with Rays of Light or Glory. This usually represents the eye of God watching over human kind. Some say divine providence. (On a side note, I believe some American-Jacobite Mason fraternity button specimens that were used during the Rev War had dual meaning for the all-seeing-eye which included the Jacobites were watching). Just above the eye is a small St. Andrew’s Cross to represent Scotland. There is an jeweled Crown with a Catholic Cross on top. There are Three Vertical Diamonds in the headdress. In-between there are Three Smaller Horizontal Diamonds. This usually represented the unification by the Scottish King for Scotland, England, and Ireland. (This actually was the House of Stuart or King James VI of Scotland and I of England and Ireland. Trailing from the top down the side of the crown is Eight raised Stipples on each side. This means XXXX. Inside the center of the Crown is a Small Cross flanked on the left by a French Fleur-de-Lis or Lilly Merovingian King Symbol, and on the right by a Scottish Thistle. Circling in the lower legend is the social/political slogan, “King & Constitution” in raised Roman font capital letters. The high relief pattern is set on a plain flat field.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is unfortunately missing.
Library Records Has Limited Information on MFLB-1:
History: Yes Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location: ~ New York ~
The RJ Silverstein Collection.
This was Dug Around Seville, Spain with English & French Regiment buttons of Napoleonic War.
1790-1800’s MASON FRATERNITY CROWN, COMPASS AND GAVEL
Metal: Flat, One-Piece, Impressed Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 32.94mm Inaugural Size Button
Rarity: R-7 (1 or 2 Known)
Present Condition: An Excavated Specimen, Good Planchet Condition, A Fair Impressed Pattern Remains.
Robert’s Notes: This button could have been made for either a Lodge’s Master Mason or a Fellow-Craft brother. The common gavel is also one of the working tools of a Stone Mason. In this variant the Gavel is depicted with a Squared end. There appears to be Three Types of Gavels associated with Freemasonry. First is the Operative Gavel. This is a tool used to hew the rough edges from stone in order to fit them perfectly in place. Next, is the Speculative Gavel. In Speculative Freemasonry the Masonic Gavel is used to symbolically divest the heart and consciousness of all it’s vices and luxury excess in life in order to ready oneself to be shaped spiritually by our creator. The last is the True Masonic Gavel with a pinched end.
The button depicts the Crown of England above with a surmounting Catholic Cross on top. The button has a decorative GR Stipple Design which most likely has a number cypher to its true meaning. There might be a chance that cypher might represent Pictish Snakes or Honey Bees about their work. Below is a Mason Gavel crossed in-between a Mason’s Compass. The compass is an architect’s tool that is used as symbols in Masonic lodges during their rituals. It can show the direction of light and learning from East to West. The Square represents the unites of measurement in 24. Some Freemasons use them also as associations with a person’s conduct. For example, “The Square, to Square our Actions.” The impressed design is on a plain flat field with a Stipple edge border.
Reverse Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a soldered on loop shank. The shank is original, straight, and intact. Mold line present.
The RJ Silverstein Collection.
1790-1800’s MASON FRATERNITY SQUARE & COMPASS W/ ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLS
Metal: Flat, One-Piece, Impressed Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 32.94mm Oval Cuff Button
Rarity: R-7 (1 or 2 Known)
Present Condition: An Excavated Specimen, Strong Planchet Condition, A Strong Impressed Pattern Remains.
Robert’s Notes:
Reverse Analysis:
Dug at a Frontier Home Site in Kentucky in 2011.
1812-1815 U.S. CORPS OF ARTIFICERS 17 SIX POINT STARS W/ MASON ARTISAN BUILDER SYMBOLS
Metal: Flat, One-Piece, Impressed Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 26mm Coat Button
Rarity: R-7 (1 or 2 Known)
Albert: CA.1 RV 150
Present Condition: Book Plate Specimen.
Robert’s Notes: The Corps of Artificers was first established by Congress on April 23, 1812. This new act established an organization that was attached to the quartermaster generals department. The Supervisor would be directly appointed by the President of the United States. The Artificers would consist of 2 Master Masons, 2 Master Carpenters, 2 Master Blacksmiths, 2 Master Boat Builders, 2 Master Armorers, 12 Master Saddle & Harness Makers, 20 House Carpenters, 5 Ship Carpenters, 20 Blacksmiths, 16 Boat Builders, 24 Laborers to be selected from privates serving in the Army, and 4 Assistants to the Supervisor. This new body would consist of 129 men. This was a termed department of three years unless the President of the United States purposefully discharged them. The sum of thirty thousand dollars was appropriated by congress for this act. The Corps unfortunately became obsolete by the Congressional Act of March 3, 1815. The buttons depicts a Trophy of Builder Associated items including, A Mason Compass & Square with a Level with Dividers in the center. Surmounting the compass is a profile of a Military Helmet with a Plume and 6 Point Star. Flanking the left side of the compass is a Saw & Musket. On the right side of the compass is a Hatchet and Sword. The initials for United States, “U. S.” is above flanking each side of the helmet. Below is the initial C. with the date 1812. Circling around the outside edge is 17 Six Pointed Stars.
Reverse Analysis: A M Peasley. DS*/*Boston* rm.
All the ideas presented in this section is just me reflecting ideas with other researchers, reading source material off the internet and in countless books.