Description:
Masonic medal descended in the Putnam family of Connecticut. Oval, flat medal with loop or ring at top; obverse side engraved with Masonic decoration including a standing man holding a ruler looking up toward a star with an upside down triangle with the Hebrew word for Yahweh, the inscription at the top in pigpen cipher of the medal means: " I AM WHAT I AM" (see 1 Corinthians 15:10), star light is raining down upon him; to his right is an ark (Noah's) on a sea, and above is a hand reaching out of a cloud holding a plumb from a mason's level, next to the boat or ark is a dove bringing an olive leaf, on the left of the man is a hand coming out of the clouds holding a key, below the man is a checkerboard floor with a hive and bees surrounding it; the reverse of the medal has a variety of engraved masonic symbols: at the top is the engraved cipher meaning: "LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT." (see Genesis 1:3) ", below is an all-seeing eye, a "G" with a star, a compass and ruler combined; a Bible with compass and ruler combined on top of it, a pair of columns on either side topped with a sun and moon face, a trowel, a level with plumb, a cut block of stone, a ladder, a level, nails and a hammer, a ruler, a key, three lighted candlesticks, a checkerboard floor, a scythe, a coffin, and an hourglass. A 19th/20th-century paper label accompanied the silver medal and is inscribed in ink, "General Israel Putnam's/Masonic Emblem." Condition: generally good overall condition, silver loop or ring at top of medal is probably a later replacement.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2015.35 |
