Masonic Lodge Officer Apron1875–192512 × 15"Cotton embroidery on leather, with moiré border and rope and tassel ties with a silk backGift of Kendra and Allan Daniel2015.1.103015571253682015.1.102-105Artist unidentifiedCostumehttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21504United StatesTextilesFraternal Art and ObjectsThese Masonic aprons are part of a larger set of officer aprons. They would have belonged to a lodge, which passed them out at meetings to the men who were serving in the various offices at the time. As the officers rotated in and out of their respective positions, the aprons were passed along to the next person to fill that role.
A full set of officer aprons would number fourteen. Each one shows the symbol associated with the office: the square for the Master, the level for the Senior Warden, the plumb for the Junior Warden, the crossed quills for the Secretary, the crossed keys for the Treasurer, the square and compasses with sun for the Senior Deacon, the square and compasses with moon for the Junior Deacon, a cornucopia for the two Stewards, crossed swords for the Inner Guard, a single sword for the Tyler, a Bible for the chaplain, a lyre for the Organist, and a baton for the Marshal.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Masonic Lodge Officer Aprons," exhibition label for Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2016.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orghttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21504http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster21504http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster215042015.1.102-10518751925 2015 1 103 These Masonic aprons are part of a larger set of officer aprons. They would have belonged to a lodge, which passed them out at meetings to the men who were serving in the various offices at the time. As the officers rotated in and out of their respective positions, the aprons were passed along to the next person to fill that role.
A full set of officer aprons would number fourteen. Each one shows the symbol associated with the office: the square for the Master, the level for the Senior Warden, the plumb for the Junior Warden, the crossed quills for the Secretary, the crossed keys for the Treasurer, the square and compasses with sun for the Senior Deacon, the square and compasses with moon for the Junior Deacon, a cornucopia for the two Stewards, crossed swords for the Inner Guard, a single sword for the Tyler, a Bible for the chaplain, a lyre for the Organist, and a baton for the Marshal.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Masonic Lodge Officer Aprons," exhibition label for Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2016.
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org