The history of the painted truncheon is a long one, probably dating back to before the thirteenth century. Symbolic maces and staves were carried by constables and tythingmen as a sign of authority for making arrests although, sadly, no examples of these have survived to the present day. One would imagine they would have been highly decorated with painted emblems and perhaps inscriptions.From the seventeenth century onwards, painted and gilt ornament had become more common and, by the Georgian era, very much the norm.Truncheons come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with a range of styles of painted decoration, often very elaborate. It is difficult to identify the function of a truncheon by its shape, this being indicated by the particular coat-of-arms and inscriptions painted upon it. By the reign of William IV (1830-37), the royal crown and cypher were standard features of truncheon decoration.