Queen of the South Co.
Set of 12 antique Freemason banners from New Zealand. They each represent a tribe of Israel and were used in the Royal Arch ceremonies. (North American chapters tended to use 4 banners, but other parts of the world, particularly England and commonwealth countries used all 12).
Both the “name plates” and imagery representing the tribes had been hand painted in a watercolor style onto thick canvas type paper that has been glued onto the fabric. They are all secure, but some gaps can be seen between the paper and fabric here and there. The poles are wooden and have been painted with a golden gilt. The tassels and hanging ropes are a yellow colored thick, ropy fabric.
(a couple of the knobs on the wooden poles were loose so I secured with wood glue. This might happen to others in the future, but the all seemed secure when I checked over them).
There are 12 banners total included. I am selling all together and not individually as a set of 12 is really rare to find!
The Masonic orders tended to list Simeon and Levi together on one banner and Manasseh and Ephraim separately, thus equaling 12 banners and not 13. However, particular set does not have Levi listed. There’s a chance the name fell off as they are painted onto a thick canvas paper that has then been applied to the fabric, and not directly onto the fabric itself. Theres also a chance, however, that the omission was intentional if this chapter split up the Royal Arch divisions by land allocation, in which case the tribe of Levi did not receive any. If desired, I’m sure a local artist could copy the style and make a new one to apply on.
Dimensions: approx. 11-1/2 x 22 inches total including rope length.
Select the picture hanger option on the artwork section of my store if you’d like a wall hook & nail included with your item.
Shipping: Free shipping world wide!
(If you're in NZ, please message me for a local discount)
Please keep in mind items are coming from NZ and may take 7-14+ business days to arrive.
More items: If you love all things down-under or are looking for more vintage items, check out my other listings on Queen of the South! https://www.etsy.com/shop/QueenOfTheSouthCo
Vintage disclosure: Any major flaws will be noted, but please view pictures carefully & keep in mind these are antique mirrors and are expected to have time-worn flaws which give them character.
Well done, you! By shopping vintage, you are keeping items out of landfills, creating less waste, supporting a small business and adding a unique item to your home!
