A SCOTTISH PROVINCIAL 19THC WOOD AND SILVER MASONIC DESK SEAL

Seal Detail

An early 19th century turned wooden handle (replaced) to the domed seal with foliate collar and reeded decoration to reverse of matrix, the matrix engraved for:

MUIR OF RHYNIE LODGE OF MASTER GARDENERS 1822

and with emblems to the centre of crossed tools and dove of peace in flight.

The seal is of the lodge of Master Gardeners in Muir of Rhynie, between the Firths of Dornoch and Cromarty in Aberdeenshire.  The Muir of Rhynie Lodge was founded in 1812 and appears to have closed sometime after 1834.  Societies of Gardeners have existed in Scotland from the 17th century initially formed by working gardeners to promote an encourage their profession by spreading horticultural knowledge and disseminating new plants, (many known as "Free Gardeners").  They welcomed members from other professions and from the 19th century, evolved into a combination of friendly society and Masonic Lodge. 

Some Gardener's Lodges joined together into orders, but others, such as this one, remained independent with their own complicated rituals.  In general, the symbolism is based on the biblical story of the Creation and the Garden of Eden.  The coded initials PGTE represents the four rivers of Eden, Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates and the initials ANS represented Adam, Noah and Solomon, with depictions of suitable images such as Noah's dove or Adam and Eve standing hand in hand.  As in Masonry, these would be combined with the gardening tools of the trade on the lodge's regalia, which would be made locally to the required specifications.  In the case of Muir of Rhynie Lodge, unusually the gardening tools are crossed with three candlesticks, presumably representing enlightenment, and the initials SNA are accompanied by the so-far unidentified letter C.  In other lodges, the letters can be found accompanied by a D for "dove" or O for "olive".

Seal Specification

Height: 110 mm

Diameter of matrix:  47mm 

Weight:  95g