The Mayoral Chain of Office

The chain is of 18 carat gold, Hall-marked, and weighs, with the badge, nearly forty-two ounces.  The massiveness of the chain, however, has not affected the elegance and beauty which should mark a specimen of the goldsmith's art.  Mr. Alfred Smith of High-street was commissioned to execute this task.

The style adopted is that of later Italian which became naturalised in England under the name of Elizabethan.  Every link of the chain is solid, the intervening links forming the monogram 'C.C' representing the Corporation of Croydon.  These are connected with a larger link, having finely carved scrolls and wrought mouldings and bearing shields on the obverse and reverse, arranged so that they may be removed and enamelled with the arms, crests, or monograms of successive mayors.   Surmounting each of these larger links is the true Corona muralis of the romans, an appropriate civic emblem, while on the fillet of each are incised dolphins and roses, indicating the nationality of the borough.  The chain is some 50 inches long, and supplied with shoulder attachments so that the chain may rest gracefully at the back of the coat or robe.  The centre link, of somewhat larger size but similar character, is supported by two cleverly wrought civic maces, and bears on the front shield, in enamel, the crest - a palm tree,  resting on a wreath of the colours, together with the motto, 'Virtus ad aethera tendit' - a suggested translation is 'Virtue reaches to the heavens'.

In the badge the artist has produced the finest effect of which the material is capable.  The severe cornice moulding which forms the line of departure of the shield is a necessary contrast with the successive scrolls and modulations which diversify the outline, combining to make the badge the leading feature of the design.  The fasces, as carried by the 'lictors' in Roman processions, are adopted as being justly symbolic of civic government, the bound sticks representing unity of action, while the axe in the midst indicates the possession of magisterial functions.  The mace, placed in saltire with them, illustrates municipal authority, while the oak and laurel are appropriate adjuncts.  The shield, which has above it the English rose, is exquisitely diapered, the arms of the borough, completes this work of high art.

Source: The Croydon Local Studies Library

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Thursday, 28 August, 2008

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