OUR TREASURES
Our Company is proud of its treasures, each of which play a significant part in our traditional ceremonies and at our lunches and dinners.
THE BALLOT BOX
Our Edwardian stained oak and mahogany ballot box is used at Court meetings to vote for new candidates seeking to join the Livery, and on any sensitive matters.
THE CEREMONIAL MACE
Emblematic of the authority invested in the Master, Wardens and Assistants.
Our ceremonial mace was created in silver gilt by George Kenning & Son of London in 1958, shortly after the Modern Livery Company was created. It carries three embossed panels showing the Livery’s current coat of arms and a sailing ship returning from the Americas with a cargo of tobacco. The mace is used at formal Livery functions.
THE LOVING CUP
A two-handled silver-gilt cup and cover, made in London in 1841 and presented to the Livery in 1955 by Past Master Alan Adler (father of Past Master John Adler and grandfather of Past Master Fiona Adler) for use as a loving cup.
SALZMAN COLLECTION OF 18TH CENTURY DELFT TOBACCO JARS
A collection of tobacco jars with brass covers, donated in 1963 by Elia Salzman, founder of the Elia Salzman Tobacco Co Ltd of London. Jars like these were originally filled by tobacconists with particular blends of tobacco. Some of the collection is kept in the dining room of the Guildhall.
SILVER CUPS
A large silver tyg (three-handled mug) made by William Hutton of London in 1886, and a later silver cup and cover, both presented to the Livery by Past Master Edmond Hardcastle in 1969.
SMOKING CAP AND STAND
Smoking caps were popular as informal gentleman’s wear from the late 1840s through to the 1880s. The caps were usually made of velvet or felt and often quilted inside. Some had tassels attached for added flair. Gentlemen originally wore them for warmth and to reduce the smell of smoke in their hair.
The Livery’s first Master’s smoking cap of quilted brown velvet was supplied by Dunn & Company. It was presented to the Livery (together with the briar wood cap stand) in 1970 by then Master Bill Wilson at the end of his year of service.
In 2007, then Master Richard Tranter presented the Company with a new scarlet smoking cap, supplied by Hunters & Frankau. He also donated five additional caps to be worn by the Wardens on occasions such as the Lord Mayor’s Show. A gold tassel was added to each of the new caps to co-ordinate with the Livery’s official colours.
The smoking cap stand is made from briar wood (the material traditionally used to make wooden pipes). It comprises four pipes supporting a briar block for the smoking cap. Our Company's stand was hand-carved at the Alfred Dunhill pipe factory in Plaistow, East London. It was presented to the Livery by Past Master Bill Wilson in 1970. The stand is traditionally placed on the high table in front of the Master at banquets. After the smoking cap ceremony, the Master places the cap on its stand for the remainder of the evening.
SNUFF MULLS
Our Livery owns three silver-mounted ram’s horn snuff mulls, which are used at our formal dinners. They were presented by Past Master Nigel Rich, Past Master Richard Tranter and Past Master Charles Miller respectively. Our most magnificent ram's head mull, nicknamed Cedric, was presented by Singleton & Cole and is kept in the Guildhall.
A snuff mull is a substantial snuff container created to sit on a sideboard or side table and shared among diners as an act of friendship.
‘Cedric’, as he is informally known to our Company, is our splendid Scottish ram’s head snuff mull on ivory casters. Made in Edinburgh in 1899, he nowadays spends most of his days resting in the Alderman’s Bar above the Guildhall. We bring him out only on very special occasions, as he is quite heavy, rather elderly and sadly missing one of his decorative finials.
It is not uncommon for an entire ram's head, with silver mounts, to be used as a snuff mull. These large mulls, often mounted on wheels, can contain significant quantities of snuff. They were more commonly used by gentlemen’s organisations or in regimental messes, when they would be wheeled in at the end of a ceremonial meal. The various accoutrements associated with snuff-taking, such as spoons and brushes are sometimes attached by chains to the mull.
The word ‘mull’ comes from Scots dialect for ‘mill’, referencing the mills used to grind tobacco leaves in the creation of snuff. Mulls are most frequently made of horn mounted in silver or pewter, but also come in a variety of other shapes and materials, including wood and tortoiseshell. Fine examples are often displayed in Scottish museums and collections.
TOBACCO PARAPHERNALIA AND PRINTS
Our collection of tobacco paraphernalia, including antique prints of tobacco pipe making, are on long-term loan to the Broseley Pipe Works Museum, part of the World Heritage site at Ironbridge Gorge in Staffordshire. Examples of some of the prints can be viewed on this website in the Print Library.
ANOINTING SCREEN FOR THE CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III
We are very proud to have donated, along with many other City Livery Companies, to the creation of the Anointing Screen made for the Coronation of King Charles III under the aegis of the Royal School of Needlework. The screen was used at the most sacred moment of the Coronation, when the King was anointed with holy oil.
King Charles III is a keen supporter of preserving heritage craft skills, and the screen's creation was a collaboration of specialists in traditional crafts, including weaving, calligraphy, cabinet making and embroidery.
Photos of Anointing Screen by the Press Association.