Alumni Jake Coleman and Gareth Edwards have crafted six new ceremonial maces for Leeds Arts University.
A ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff, carried before high officials in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer. The mace symbolizes the authority and independence of a chartered university and the authority vested in the provost. The maces will be carried in front of the academic procession by a macebearer at the University graduation ceremony.
The maces have been crafted in cherry wood to replicate the original University mace. Each bespoke piece is turned on a lathe and finished carefully by hand to create the finished piece.
Image: Jake Coleman creating a ceremonial mace at the Coleman & Edwards Makers of Fine Furniture workshop in Leeds.
The BA (Hons) in Furniture Making graduates Jake Coleman (2013) and Gareth Edwards (2014) founded Coleman & Edwards Makers of Fine Furniture in November 2014.
Jake Coleman said “This is the first time that we have been asked to create a ceremonial mace, we turn wood frequently, usually for more ornate table or chair legs, for a mace the standard of finish has to be much higher. It has been great to be asked to create a bespoke object for the University where we studied.”
Image: Macebearers at the Leeds Arts University 2019 Summer Graduation.
Image: Alumni Jake Coleman and Gareth Edwards at their workshop in Leeds.
The pair founded the company in November 2014 in a small basement workshop in a converted Mill building and later moved to their current, larger premises in Leeds.