As you can tell from the other articles in the right-hand column under News, I have made an academic mace for several schools and my customers have been overwhelmingly pleased with the result. If you are interested in having an academic mace for your college or university, please contact me by phone at 540-338-1718 or by e-mail at tboley@erols.com so we can discuss your needs. The process of mace-making is long so let me explain the steps. This may help you understand how we need to proceed and how much we need to work together on your project.
The first step is to let me know of your interest. I will ask a number of questions such as any design you may have in mind, what kind of wood you would like for your mace, and if you have a deadline.
The design is most important, but I have only had one customer who actually had an idea of the design for his school. Generally, I look at the school web site to try to learn what is important. Usually the mission statement, vision statement, and history will reveal those answers. I then will highlight those points to my contact at the school and confirm those elements which should be included in the design of the mace. I will do a full-size pencil drawing of my proposed design and mail a copy to you for review. Once the final design is approved, I'll start working on the mace. The main thing which takes up time in this process is the need for one or more committees to meet, review the drawing, and approve it. I certainly understand that need, but if this is a last-minute thing for you, you may need to find a way to short-cut that process.
So far, all my customers have wanted a mace with a design similar to those pictured in the mace articles under News, with a 5" ball near the top, flattened on one side with a 4" recess into which a 4" brass medallion is glued. The college or university is responsible for designing and having the medallion(s) made. Four inches wide and 1/4" to 3/8" thick seems to be the optimum size for a medallion. One customer asked for a walnut medallion which could later be carved or laser-engraved and then glued in place. I just turned a walnut disk four inches across and 3/8 of an inch thick and sent it along with the mace.
Some maces may include more than one kind of wood. Most are all the same wood. I have used mahogany, olivewood, redwood, and walnut. I think that both white oak and red oak would work well, too, and will soon be making one of cherry and one of maple.
Two customers have asked that I design in a wood ring, or wheel, which can be engraved and then included in the final assembly of the mace. This one pictured for Antioch University shows a walnut ring into which the university had a tribute to a favorite retiring professor engraved. Maces are made in at least two parts in order to be able to flatten the face of the ball at the top to receive the medallion. I will soon be making one with a medallion on both sides of that top ball, so both sides will be flattened. Hmmmm. Guess it won't be a ball then. Anyway, I think that will look very nice and it allows the university to display two different medallions on the mace or the same medallion on both sides.
The two, or perhaps more, pieces are joined with mortise and tenon joinery and glued together. The mace will be varnished with several coats of high quality varnish and then buffed to a nice shine.
I have also been asked a couple times to make a stand for the mace to rest upon, like the one pictured above. These have been table-top stands in which the mace rests horizontally. I am able to do that if needed, but am not set up for more extensive flat, or square, work. I suggest that if you would like a glass cabinet or a stand which will hold the mace vertically, that you find a woodworker locally to make that for you after you receive your new mace.
It is a high honor to be selected to make a mace for a college or for a university and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to do so. Please contact me so that we can discuss your ideas for a mace for your school. Once again, my phone number is 540-338-1718 and my e-address is tboley@erols.com.