Sooooo, three things… What can you tell me about the lighted crown in the case, the sword, and I loved the light in the picture of columned ceiling. Spectacular.!
The mace (with the crown) and the sword are symbols of authority. The mace was made for the predecessor of the S.C. House of Representatives–before the American Revolution and probably on behalf of the British government. Our tour guide in Virginia told us each of the colonies had been given a mace but that S.C.’s is the only one that remains. It’s silver burnished with gold and is said to be the oldest mace in continuous use by any American state legislature.
The sword also symbolizes the crown in Carolina. The original sword was made in 1704. It was taken during the March to the Sea and later found in Philadelphia and returned to S.C. It was stolen sometime after that. The sword in use now was given by the Earl of Halifax in 1951.
Both of these pieces reside in front of their respective presiding officers when the body is in session. And when the sword or mace is in its place, an electrical circuit is completed and lamps on either side of the presiding officer come on. Pretty cool.
We were quite close to the mace but the couldn’t see much of the sword. Dave handed his phone to the tour guide and she took the picture of the sword.
2 Comments
Laura · July 6, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Sooooo, three things… What can you tell me about the lighted crown in the case, the sword, and I loved the light in the picture of columned ceiling. Spectacular.!
Jane Appel · July 7, 2022 at 9:44 pm
The mace (with the crown) and the sword are symbols of authority. The mace was made for the predecessor of the S.C. House of Representatives–before the American Revolution and probably on behalf of the British government. Our tour guide in Virginia told us each of the colonies had been given a mace but that S.C.’s is the only one that remains. It’s silver burnished with gold and is said to be the oldest mace in continuous use by any American state legislature.
The sword also symbolizes the crown in Carolina. The original sword was made in 1704. It was taken during the March to the Sea and later found in Philadelphia and returned to S.C. It was stolen sometime after that. The sword in use now was given by the Earl of Halifax in 1951.
Both of these pieces reside in front of their respective presiding officers when the body is in session. And when the sword or mace is in its place, an electrical circuit is completed and lamps on either side of the presiding officer come on. Pretty cool.
We were quite close to the mace but the couldn’t see much of the sword. Dave handed his phone to the tour guide and she took the picture of the sword.