Symbology of Ex Libris

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by J Dagger, Oct 9, 2024 at 9:04 PM.

  1. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    A3D2C46B-7CE1-4C7A-A293-EA8760E2FDD6.jpeg Wondering what the symbology adds up to here, if anything. The owner was a member of the Presbyterian church, if that helps.
     
    Ex Libris and Roaring20s like this.
  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  3. Ex Libris

    Ex Libris Well-Known Member

    Most of those bookplates are very personal, so often it is difficult to find out the exact meaning. Maybe if you try to find out more about the person itself and go from there.

    Further is everything from my side nothing more then a wild guess. It is an American owner? Then the ship in the background could hint to the Mayflower?
     
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  4. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    The owner was American. It could be. Very interesting lady. She was heavily involved in trying to free Chinese women from sexual slavery in one of the nations large chinatowns in the late 19th century.
     
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  5. mirana

    mirana Well-Known Member

    Seems like standard symbols of wisdom and learning to me. Chiron the centaur, an owl of Athena, a scroll. Ship could be a symbol of exploration, ie learning.

    The sun/halo could indicate divine. I don't recognize the woman as a particular person though.
     
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  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Since the owner was Presbyterian, which is of Scottish origin, I wonder if the lady is Margaret of Denmark, 15th century queen of Scotland.

    "She became a popular queen in Scotland and was described as beautiful, gentle, and sensible."
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_Denmark,_Queen_of_Scotland#References

    Maybe "sensible" is depicted by the owl, for wisdom?
    The ship could mean that she came from across the sea, from Denmark.
    Her headdress is earlier than 15th century, but not every artist knows costume history. And Medieval is Medieval, right?:joyful:
     
    Ghopper1924 likes this.
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