“So Mote It Be”: Masonic Symbols in Decorative

Arts from the Carolina Low Country

Hogarth’s Night (Satire)

Origins of Freemasonry

Masonic Work

Freemasonry in Colonial AmericaGrand Lodge of England and a central meeting between four lodges of London in 1716 at the Apple Tree Tavern

Reached North America in the 1730s and each of the thirteen colonies had established lodges by 1765

The earliest lodge of Freemasons in America was organized in Philadelphia’s Old Tun Tavern in 1730-31.

Freemasonry in Colonial America

Masonic Decorative Arts

•Aprons •Furniture •Jewels •Floorcloths •Tracing boards •Charts

Fraternal

Masonic Decorative ArtsUtilitarian

•ceramic pitchers

•Bowls

•blown-molded flasks

•glass artifacts

Masonic Decorative Arts

Symbols•First floor – checkered ground-floor pavement of King Solomon’s Temple (E.A. work) •Second floor – Middle chamber of King Solomon’s Temple w/working tools of a F.C.•Third floor – Sanctum Sanctorium of Holy of Holies of Solomon’s Temple; symbols of the M.M. degree; veiled from above is “Celestial Lodge” presided over by the All-Seeing Eye of God.

Masonic Affiliation•John Ritto Penniman Floor Cloth

•Benjamin Bucktrout Worshipful Master’s Chair

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts•Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Worshipful Master’s Chair

•Master Mason’s Apron by Thomas Coram

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts•Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Worshipful Master’s Chair

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts•Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Worshipful Master’s Chair

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts•Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Worshipful Master’s Chair

Charleston Masonic Decorative Arts•Union Kilwinning Lodge No. 4, Worshipful Master’s Chair

Charleston Masonic Decorative ArtsMaster Mason’s Apron by Thomas Coram

Charleston Masonic Decorative ArtsMasonic Aprons

Charleston Masonic Decorative ArtsScottish Rite, York Rite, and Knights Templar

Charleston Masonic Decorative ArtsMaster Mason’s Apron by Thomas Coram

Where Do We (I) Go From Here?