The Mace of St Salvator’s College is one of three medieval maces, and one of seven university maces. The maces are the physical representation of the University’s authority and are still in use today at graduation and other formal events. The oldest maces have been in use since the 15th century. The Mace of St Salvator’s College was completed in 1461 and, whilst not the oldest (the Mace of the Faculty of Arts being completed in 1418-19), it is the most elaborate. It was comissioned by the college’s founder, Bishop Kennedy, and takes the form of a hexagonal shrine, with images of the holy saviour on a globe, angels, three chained devils, a king, bishop and merchant (representing the Three Estates of Medieval Scotland) and six lions.

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