Antique 19thC Brass Friendly Society Pole Head Finial Staff Topper Monogram MBS For Sale
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Antique 19thC Brass Friendly Society Pole Head Finial Staff Topper Monogram MBS:
$195.00
Up for sale is a wonderful, genuine 19th-century West Country Friendly Society brass pole head (also known as a staff finial or club brass). This beautiful piece of English folk art features an elegant openwork design topped by a Royal Crown, with the cutout monogram letters "MBS" boldly displayed in the center.
The letters most likely stand for a local Mutual Benefit Society or a village Benevolent Society (with the 'M' representing a specific West Country village, such as Milverton or Martock).
Historical Background:
Before the advent of the modern welfare state, rural workers joined local Friendly Societies as early forms of mutual aid and health insurance. Once a year, typically on the society's spring "Feast Day" or "Walking Day," members would hold a grandprocessional parade through the village. They dressed in their finest attire and carried long wooden staves proudly topped by unique village brasses like this one to identify their chapter.
Design & Specifications:
• Front/Back Details: The lettering is cast and cutout cleanly from one side, designed with a distinct front-facing orientation for processional marchers.
Dimensions: Measures approximately 24.5 cm to 25 cm (just under 10 inches) in total length, standing as a standard, full-sized parade finial.
• Mounting Base: Features the traditional cylindrical socketed collar at the base with a small pre-drilled pinhole, which was originally used to secure it to a wooden parade staff.
Condition Report:
• Overall: Excellent authentic antique condition with fantastic historical character.
• Surface/Patina: The brass retains an uncleaned, deep mellow-golden historic patina with light age-related surface marks, oxidation spots, and minor blemishes expected from an authentic 19th-century processional piece. It has not been polished, preserving its original look for collectors.
Structure: Completely solid brass casting with no major bends, cracks, or structural repairs. The cutout details and crown tips remain crisp and fully intact.
No makers' marks or numbering are present, which is standard for small local village foundry castings.
Please study all high-resolution photos carefully as they form an integral part of the item condition report.
Offers and questions always welcome!
Thanks for looking!
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