Provincial Museum & Library
The Guernsey Provincial Museum holds over 2000 items of interest, some dating from the late 1700’s.
Amongst this collection we have over 600 Jewels.
A Jewel was issued for many purposes, as a medal to mark achievement, status or to commemorate an event.
Charity has always been, and still is, one of the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. Huge sums are donated to local and international charities.
We also support our own Institutions, and a breast jewel was issued by each institution each year.
A Mason who donated a certain minimum sum to the Institution funds was entitled to purchase the Jewel (in addition to the donation) and wear it on his breast.
Thus we have a huge collection of different jewels, a few of which are illustrated here.
The jewels normally hang from a ribbon, the colour of which designates the charitable Institution that struck it.
The design on the jewel is what makes collecting so interesting, each design is different and most are enameled in different colours and pierced.
They were available in different metals, and in our collection the older ones are in silver or silver gilt, the more modern ones are mostly base metal and during the last War they were made of cardboard or plastic.
It should be noted that nowadays no Mason wears any sign or symbol of his charitable activities, this being a private and personal affair.
Some of the huge collection of ‘Charity Jewels’ in the Province of Guernsey & Alderney Museum
