TheCrystal Sceptre (occasionally described as amace) is part of theregalia of theLord Mayor of London. It was presented to theCity of London by KingHenry V in return for having provided the king with 10,000marks (£6,666) to fund a war in France in 1415, when his armycaptured Harfleur and then won theBattle of Agincourt.
Thesceptre measures 17 inches (43 cm) long, with arock crystal shaft incised with helical grooves, in two parts, mounted with gold and pearls. At the top is a gold crown with alternating fleur-de-lys and cross embellishments, mounted with jewels including Afghan redspinel, Ceylon bluesapphires, andpearls from thePersian Gulf. Within the circlet of the crown is a painting on parchment of theRoyal Arms of England adopted in 1406, quartering three fleurs-de-lys for France with three lions for England. The crown may have been adapted from a religious sculpture of theVirgin Mary. The other end has a large rock crystal boss.
The sceptre was probably accembled in London, c.1380–1420, though the rock crystal was probably carved in Paris and presented to the City of London between 1415 and 1421: it was mentioned as being carried by the Lord Mary at the cornonation of Queen Katherine in 1421. A rare object of medieval gold to have survived to the modern day, it was hidden during theCommonwealth and kept safe by the Lord Mayor SirThomas Bloodworth during theGreat Fire of London in 1666. The central boss of crystal was damaged and replaced with a glass replica by the jewellersRundell, Bridge & Rundell in the 1830s.
The sceptre is kept in the Guildhall, and usually only seen in public at the annual instalation of the new Lord Mayor and at the coronation of a monarch. It is one of the symbolic items – sceptre, sword, purse, seal – that are touched during the annualSilent Ceremony to install a new Lord Mayor each November, but remains in its protective box throughout.
The sceptre went on public display for the first time in 2015, at theGuildhall Art Gallery.