
A mason's mark is an engraved
symbol
A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...
often found on dressed
stone
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
in buildings and other public structures.
In stonemasonry
Regulations issued in Scotland in 1598 by
James VI
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguat ...
's Master of Works,
William Schaw, stated that on admission to the
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
, every
mason had to enter his name and his mark in a register. There are three types of marks used by
stonemasons
Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...
.
*Banker marks were made on stones before they were sent to be used by the walling masons. These marks served to identify the banker mason who had prepared the stones to their paymaster. This system was employed only when the stone was paid for by measure, rather than by time worked. For example, the 1306 contract between Richard of Stow, mason, and the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral, specified that the plain walling would be paid for by measure, and indeed banker marks are found on the blocks of walling in this cathedral. Conversely, the masons responsible for walling the eastern parts of Exeter Cathedral were paid by the week, and consequently few banker marks are found on this part of the cathedral. Banker marks make up the majority of masons' marks, and are generally what are meant when the term is used without further specification.
*Assembly marks were used to ensure the correct installation of important pieces of stonework. For example, the stones on the window jambs in the chancel of North Luffenham church in Rutland are each marked with a Roman numeral, directing the order in which the stones were to be installed.
* Quarry stones were used to identify the source of a stone, or occasionally the quality.
In Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
, a fraternal order that uses an analogy to stonemasonry for much of its structure, also makes use of marks. A Freemason who takes the degree of
Mark Master Mason will be asked to create his own Mark, as a type of unique signature or identifying badge. Some of these can be quite elaborate.
Gallery of mason's marks
File:Steinhoggermerke 58 C Nidaros.jpg, Mason's mark from Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral ( no, Nidarosdomen / Nidaros Domkirke) is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Trøndelag county. It is built over the burial site of King Olav II (c. 995–1030, reigned 1015–1028), who became the ...
, Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, an ...
, Norway, late 12th century
File:Steinhoggermerke Vår Frue kirke.jpg, Masons's mark from Vår Frue Church, Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, an ...
, Norway, 12th century
File:Coimbra 2.jpg, Mason's mark on exterior of Coimbra Cathedral, Portugal, 12th century
File:Coimbra 3.jpg, Mason's mark on exterior of Coimbra Cathedral, Portugal, 12th century
File:Coimbra 4.jpg, Mason's mark on interior column of Coimbra Cathedral, Portugal, 12th century
File:Mason's mark St. Honorat 5.jpg, Mason's mark in the in Alyscamps, France, early 13th century
File:Masons mark St. Honorat.jpg, Mason's mark in the Église Saint-Honorat in Alyscamps France, early 13th century
File:Athenry Priory Arrowhead as Mason's Mark 2009 09 03.jpg, Arrowhead-shaped mason's mark in Athenry
Athenry (; ) is a town in County Galway, Ireland, which lies east of Galway city. Some of the attractions of the medieval town are its town wall, Athenry Castle, its priory and its 13th century street-plan. The town is also well known by virtu ...
Priory, Ireland, 13th century
File:Jagdschloß Grunewald-33.jpg, Mason's mark close to the Lintel at the Jagdschloss Grunewald, Germany
File:Henry House Stone Wall 1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - August 2019.jpg, Mason's mark on Henry House in Halifax, Canada, from 1834
File:Stone Mason marks as seen in the Chapter House of Fountains Abbey.jpg, Mason's marks from Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near to the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 40 ...
, North Yorkshire, England
File:Canton Viaduct Masons Marks.jpg, Mason's marks on the Canton Viaduct, Massachusetts, USA, 1834–1835
File:Trier Porta Nigra Steinmetzzeichen MAC.jpg, Roman mason's mark at the Porta Nigra
The Porta Nigra (Latin for ''black gate'') is a large Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. It was designated as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady i ...
in Trier
Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...
, Germany
File:Mason's mark (Walpole St Peter).jpg, Horizontal Wolfsangel as a mason's mark, St Peter's Church, Walpole St Peter
__NOTOC__
St Peter's Church is an active Anglican parish church in Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, England. One of the largest churches in the county, it is known as "the Cathedral of the Fens". It is in the Diocese of Ely. The largely Perpendicular ...
, Norfolk, England, 15th century
See also
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Benchmark (surveying)
The term benchmark, bench mark, or survey benchmark originates from the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made in stone structures, into which an angle-iron could be placed to form a "bench" for a leveling rod, thus ensuring that a le ...
*
Builder's signature
A builder's signature, sometimes known as a craftsman's signature, tradesman's signature, or workman's signature, is a type of signature associated with several skilled trades in which a tradesperson inscribes their name on a structure during or a ...
*
Carpenter's mark
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House mark
*
Merchant's mark
References
Further reading
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External links
Examples of Mason's marksSite detailing Mason's Marks in Scotland
{{Authority control
Freemasonry
Masonic symbolism
Stonemasonry
Symbols
Inscriptions