mace / Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1760-70

The Lord Chancellor's mace, Dublin, c. 1765. Silver gilt. No date letter; mark of William Townsend; parcel gilt. An unusually large mace, and while made by William Townsend, it was supplied to the House of Lords by another goldsmith, Isaac D'Olier, in December 1766, at the price of £286 9s. 4Id. As an officer of state the Lord Chancellor was second in importance only to the Lord Lieutenant, and acted in his stead when the latter was out of Dublin. He presided at sessions of the House of Lords and had considerable authority over the judicial system. Following the creation of the Irish Free State, the office of Lord Chancellor was abolished in 1924, its principal functions passing to the chief justice. 154.94 cm (61 in) long.;