19th-century brass Masonic sign 12½"

Dating from the late nineteenth century, an antique French brass masonry or masonic sign. The form consists of three main symbols: the compass, the upside down triangle, and the innermost circle. The top of the compass and triangle are decorated with molded brass swirls. Freemasonry, also known as Masonry, encompasses fraternal groups originating from the guilds of stonemasons.

Starting in the late 14th century, these organizations governed the credentials of stonemasons and managed their dealings with both authorities and patrons. This would make a fabulous wall decoration or gift for an artisan honing their craft as a nod to the centuries of artisans before them.