Early 17th Century Historical Memorabilia

EVERY LAWYER AND JUDGE MUST HAVE! This extraordinary bronze gavel, dated 1603 and weights 1,3 kg. It is a rare and evocative example of early ceremonial instruments. Cast in the form of a clenched fist- symbolising authority, resolve, and order- it is mounted on a worn, aged wooden handle that enhances its historic character. The craftsmanship and materials suggest it originated in medieval or early Stuart England, a period when guilds, courts, and civic bodies often used symbolic tools to assert power and structure in meetings and proceedings. While the term “gavel” became widely recognised in the 18th and 19th centuries, mallet-like instruments were used much earlier, particularly in English trade guilds and legal contexts, where they served as emblems of control and decision-making. The clenched fist design is highly unusual, possibly denoting a unique ceremonial role or elevated authority within a guild or council. This piece is not only a striking object of early design but also a rare surviving example from the transitional period between the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras...