Bearing the canton's official regalia proudly

One of the many the duties of cantonal bailiff, currently Pascale Schreiber, is to accompany dignitaries on important ceremonial occasions, such as when new members of the cantonal government are sworn in. It is at such times she will be wearing her official robes and carrying items of the cantonal regalia such as the official rod with its orb-like top.

This beautiful item of the regalia is now 132 years old, having been made by Johann Karl Bossard (1846-1914), a Lucerne goldsmith in1886. What is interesting is that the telegram to say it was ready for collection or sending, can be found among many documents at the canton’s archives. It was also known that the father and grandfather of the afore-mentioned Mr Bossard had been active as goldsmiths in Zug. Unlike them, after qualifying, Johann Karl Bossard went on to gain experience in Geneva, Paris and London and even in the United States, returning to open a shop in Lucerne.

The bailiff’s rod he made for Zug is 1.3 metres long with an orb at the top, not unlike one from the Holy Roman Empire as exhibited in Vienna, one difference being that this latter one has a cross on top whereas the one in Zug portrays George and the dragon. In the middle of the orb, on the equator so to speak, is a band on which is written “Deus Protegam Patriam Tuggenam,” (God protect the Zug Fatherland), the coats of arms of the various municipalities appearing, too. Bossard was also commissioned to make similar rods for the cantons of Schwyz and Lucerne as well as one for the bishop of Basel and the crown prince of Romania, in this latter case set with sapphires. Indeed, Bossard’s work was admired across Europe.

The next time the cantonal rod can be seen in public will be at a ceremony to mark Ascension Day (Thursday 10 May) in Einsiedeln. Then again on Sunday October 7 following the elections that day.