What is this?

My cousin from Ireland ( north ) has asked me if I can find out what this is. It is about 1 cm square and is enshrined on the bottom, “FE. OPrey earl of Belfast”. Oprey is our family name and this was handed down from our grandmother. I don’t think it is silver as it is not hallmarked and I’m wondering if the symbols are Masonic symbols? We have no idea what it is?

Any help would be wonderful.

 

Yes, the compass & square are the main symbol for the Masons. Don't know which rite uses a star of David as part of their symbols, but a bit of research will probably tell you. My best guess is that it is a watch fob. And my surname came to the US with my grandfather's grandfather, from County Tyrone.

 

A little Googling on my part says it is 'the Seal of Solomon', not the 'Star of David'. I have no idea of the reliability of this site, but it makes the connection:

Freemasonry is based upon the legend of the building of Solomon's Temple, which is said to have employed thousands of masons and stonecutters almost 3,000 years ago.

 

If it is a watch fob as suggested, (and could very well be), I suspect it is silver and will clean up nicely with silver polish.
Not all old silver is marked.

 

Welcome,
https://www.pgl-down.org/useful_links.php

Maybe your cousin can inquire at one of the above listed.

 

Thanks, if it is silver and not marked, approx what age might it be? ( appreciate that is a difficult question but ballpark?)

 

About 25 years younger than the Earl would be if he were still alive. Are you not able to get any info on him?

 

I don't know how many Masonic lodges there might be in Belfast, but this one has a lock on the URL. Bet they are really good at keeping membership records. May not be such a long shot to contact them: http://belfastmasonry.com/

 

All I can find out is that the earl of Belfast is a sub title of the marquess of Donegal ( Name Chichester ) . There is a current earl apparent born in 1990 but trying to track down who F E Oprey was is impossible. Certainly he/she was before my grandmothers time?

Its a curiosity with some kind of story behind it, but just finding out what this “cube” is has been interesting ( thanks everyone for replying )

 

I saw that same info too. Must be the case then that there is not always anyone who holds it. I'm serious about trying to contact the Belfast lodge. I belonged to a Masonic organization when I was a girl & can tell you most of what went on was getting new members, the only thing they ever really accomplished.

 

We haven't deciphered this side yet. Can you see details not captured in the photo? I see a place where a small gem stone could have been mounted. Does it seem suitable for that use (or am I misreading the pic)?



My only thought is that it could represent Solomon's Temple, but...?

Edit: If the temple, a sparkling gem there would represent the eternal flame of the lamp.

 

I found this with some information on an O'Prey who was a servant to the Earl of Belfast that died at sea. A memorial was place in Templecorran Graveyard. I don't know if this is your relative but might be something to pursue.

http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?id=876

The connection with the sea was strong among the community, and this is reflected, as has been alluded to, in a number of graves - at least ten can be identified - which make reference to men who lost their lives through drowning; surnames include Aiken, Burns, Hoy, McFerran, McMurtry, Towell, Milliken, George, Penny and O’Prey, the latter being a servant of the Earl of Belfast who drowned with four others as they made their way to the Earl’s yacht Dalriada in Belfast Lough in 1817. The large horizontal heavy slate stone was placed in the graveyard by the Earl of Belfast, presumably one of five similar stones in the province.

There seem to be masonic symbols in the graveyard.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...ationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=114432698



http://larnehistoricchurchtrail.co.uk/churches/templecorran/

 

I will try to photograph it better but there is no physical hole ( more like the imprint of an eye, punched ) and I doubt a gem could have been present there. Certainly interested in what this symbol represents. It might not be clear from the pics but each side of the cube is indented ( like pressed in )?

 

The eye is another Masonic symbol; that's how it got onto American currency.

I had noticed that. The side with the name looks flat. Is the cube hollow or solid? I.e., did the sides get dented in with use or was it shaped like that originally?

May I ask when Grandmother was born?

 

Forgot to mention above but note the symbol.

 

The four sides are indented almost angularly whilst the bottom with the name has a slight curved indentation ( like the pressure of a finger ). It is hollow and all corners are curved, I would say by touching or rubbing.

As to the age of my grandmother? I was born in 1955, my father in 1926 so I guess my grandmother circa 1900. Don’t know exactly but obviously could find out but can’t be far off that

 

Saw that; photo made it easy to spot. Also noticed that it says Yahweh in Hebrew above it.

 

I believe the symbol that you are not sure about is a plumb square