Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Medal
No man is at all times wise - "Nemo Mortalium Omnibus Horis Sapit".
The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB or simply "buffs") is a British fraternal movement founded in 1822. Like all good British fraternal movements, it appears to operate with tongue firmly in cheek - poking fun at the Masons, the Druids, etc. Let's break down the name: "Royal", the use of the work Royal in any organisation or business requires a royal warrant from a reigning monarch... the Buffs don't have one and never have. The Seditious Meetings Act of 1817 affected gatherings of clubs throughout Britain, so the Buffs took named themselves "Royal" to show that they weren't subversive to the interest of the state. "Antediluvian" means before the time of the flood in the Bible... the Order seems to have adopted this decoration to justify a preposterous list of ancient members used in the old Initiation Ceremonies, and just give RAOB an impression of great antiquity. "Order of Buffaloes", no idea.
The Order is split into Lodges and members can obtain up to four levels of "learning" or "degrees". The Minor Lodges are structured along the lines of an "ancient" City, with titles such as "City Marshall", "City Treasurer", "City Minstrel" and "City Waiter". The somewhat controversial titles "Royal" and "antediluvian" were added in the 1850s.
This silver medal dates from the early 20th century, formed as a cross pattée. Per the inscription on the back it was:
"Presented by the Sir Harry Halsall Lodge to Brother James Foster for sick visitor, May 4th 1908"
The enamelled buffalo plaque to the front is remarkable.
Era: Edwardian, 1907
Size: 4.8cm (including bail) by 3.6cm
Hallmarks: English, Birmingham, Sterling Silver, 1907, H.S & Son Maker's Mark
Condition: Great antique condition
Full appraisal document provided with each item.
This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable).
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain).
Shipping
UPS Express shipping is free of charge on international orders over £300 and it's carbon offset
Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
Parcels going to the United States are currently subject to the Trump administration's 10% "reciprocal tariff". Until August 29th (2025), parcels under $800 remain tariff-free under the de minimis exemption.
We declare our parcels under HTS code 9706 (antique over 100 years old) which reduces import duties to zero. This means the 10% "reciprocal tariff" is all you should be charged by customs*. At this time, you are responsible for any taxes levied at the border.
US customs will require a SS# or business tax ID to clear parcels valued over $2500. UPS will request this information from you directly. More information about this can be found on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
* The tariff situation is being handled extremely erratically by the Trump administration, as such it's susceptible to change as short notice. We will keep the information on this page updated as best we can.
[last updated: August 23rd, 2025]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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