Vessel of heptagonal section, ebonised wood with stone-effect lacquer, the borders and devices inlaid in gold; the seven faces engraved with interlaced triangular figures within titled borders. 340 × 320 × 190 mm. English, probably London work, c. 1850–1880, incorporating (by the Order's account) an earlier core.
Provenance: First securely recorded in an Order inventory of 1871 as “the Vessel of the Schism”; the 1919 Deposit.
The principal case of the 1919 Deposit: VI.1919.07 centre, with VI.1919.01 and VI.1919.22–23.Variant (i). A vessel of the Vessel's pattern, by lamplight, from a plate received with the Order's papers. The object is not VI.1919.07 — the geometry does not agree — and it was not among the Deposit. Untraced.Variant (ii). The same object, the face of the Sun. The cell-order of its square deviates as the Seals deviate (compare VI.1919.12–18); whoever made it knew the rule.
Note. The geometry of the seven-sided figure corresponds to that of Dr John Dee's Sigillum Dei Aemeth, of which wax exemplars survive in the British Museum; the Order's documents make much of the correspondence, the Institute rather less. The vessel is closed. It does not open by any means so far attempted, and the Trustees long ago declined to permit means that would be final. An interactive object record is provided; researchers who believe they have understood the mechanism are asked to notify the Keeper.
Interactive object record
The record is being prepared…
Interactive record. Raking light: . The Trustees ask that researchers who believe they have understood the mechanism notify the Keeper.
