Wand, civic committee wand

This staff forms part of a collection used by James Anderton of the ward (electoral district) Farringdon Without in the City of London. He was a member of various committies of the Corporation of the City of London between 1839 and 1859.

In the 1880s the social reformer Sir Edwin Chadwick complained to an officer of the Corporation of the City of London: 'my master’s – high officers of state - such as the Lord Chamberlain, are content with plain wands of office, plain sticks costing a shilling or so, whilst your master’s committee-men cannot do without decorated rods costing perhaps a guinea or more'.

The staff is related to the presentation of the freedom to Prince Albert on 28 August 1840. The London magazine, charivari, and courier des dames: a Proteus in politics, a chameleon in literature, and a butterfly in the world of bon ton' recorded in 1840: 'Prince Albert has received the freedom and clothing of the Fishmongers' Company. Rather "scaly," we should say'.