Arms of South Carolina

The Great Seal with Arms of South Carolina was commissioned in 1776 and first used in 1777.  The original was a two sided seal, this engraving represents the scene on the front. The image is dominated by a tall palmetto tree and another tree, fallen and broken, representing the battle fought on June 28, 1776 between defenders of the unfinished fort on Sullivan's Island, and the British Fleet. The standing tree represents the victorious defenders, and the fallen tree is the British Fleet. The standing tree has a small shield engraved with the date July 4, and at the base of the tree are  two bunches of arrows representing the original states of the union, they  are bound with a ribbon inscribed Quis separabit, Who Will Separate.

The detail of the State Arms is taken from a large facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, published by John Binns, in a design registered in 1818 and printed in 1819. Encircling the text of the Declaration is a ceremonial chain with medallions bearing portraits of Founding Fathers and the arms of each state.  Binns hoped to distribute 200 copies of the design and it seems that at least one made it to England where, between 1826 and 1830, Thomas Mayer, potter of Stoke-upon Trent, used it to produce a series of designs. It is believed that he used 12 of original 13  states’ coats of arms as New Hampshire has never been seen in this series of pottery prints.

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Potter: Thomas Mayer

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