St Salvator's College Mace

This mace was commissioned by Bishop Kennedy for St Salvator's College that he founded in 1450. It was made in Paris by the goldsmith John Maiel in 1461. The design of the mace is unusually complex. The head takes the form of an open shrine, containing at its centre the figure of St Salvator, the holy Saviour, standing on a globe.

The University has seven maces in total, three dating from the 1400s, and four from the modern period. Maces like this one have been used in formal ceremonies, such as graduation, since their creation, and provide a direct connection to the experiences of past generations of students and staff.

Click on the blog link to read more about the conservation of this iconic object from the University's collection.

Credit: Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums