So-called scepter of Charlemagne from the former imperial abbey, 2nd half 14th century, Werden, Reichsabtei, Germany. Jasper, sanded, Mounts Silver driven, engraved and gilded, iron soul, 53.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 cm. Ident.Nr. K 6979. Kunstgewerbemuseum © Photo: Museum of Decorative Arts of the National Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage.  Photo: Hans-Joachim Bartsch

The octagonal ceremonial staff consists of a handle, two shaft pieces and a crown in the form of a ribbed mace with eight blow leaves. Between these parts there are four faceted knobs. Narrow tires ornamental gilt silver cover the joints of the individual Jaspisteile. The shaft are two silver plated cuffs applied to secure cracks in the stone. During an acorn forms the upper end of the rod, the monogram of Charlemagne (* 748, Reg. 768-814) is engraved at the bottom of the handle that has the factory introduced its venerable name. 
An agate bar at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is the Berlin specimen very closely related, but he shows no Mounts. Drawings from the period around 1573 and around 1753, as well as style and material critical analytical studies have demonstrated that the silver mounts on Berlin's bar are the result of three different processing phases. Only with the second - were carried out in the period between the two drawings -. Change the mount he was awarded by the Karl monogram on the renewed cap the handle be Signum as alleged scepter of Charlemagne 
The earliest mention of the scepter of Charles can be found in the emerged around 1600 BECOMING monastery annals: "Charles scepter from Jasper made ​​the abbots whose use at the royal official acts and in the investiture of the Grand. It is at the oath for greater affirmation of loyalty promise touched by hand. "A drawing in the feudal book of Abbot Heinrich Duden (abbacy 1573-1601) shows the lower end of the handle unlike the present state a segmented dome without Karl Monogram obtained as would like to mention the work of the 16th century. It is doubtful whether this oldest silver mounts of the work also had its original, or whether it might even already the result of a first revision of the first without an ornamental metal version created - the Vienna bar then once actually twin detention-like -. Represents work 
Heinrich Duden describes in a probably in the third quarter of the 15th century created "Nota de usu sceptorum" the use of "ex sceptrum maius iaspide factum", which was the abbot preceded carried in processions from the Marshal and used at investitures of people high prior. Maybe reflected back in the linguistic transformation of this purely descriptive designation of the work for historicizing designation as "Caroli sceptrum" in just a few decades younger monastery annals transfer of based on the alleged foundation privilege BECOMING Karl tradition on the fief scepter of jasper, which eventually for attachment that so strongly to legitimacy Foundation strove engraved monogram Karl has done. 
In his capacity as feudal scepter, as Insignum worldly power, the ceremonial staff may have been the immediate Becoming rich Fürstäbten only awarded by the emperor himself. The hypothesis in his 1520 or 1540 to see a gift from the imperial fief to the abbey will be presented at the abbatial elections of years, does not appear unreasonable. Perhaps such insignia ceremony was the reason for the attachment of a first silver mounts on the older Jaspisstab. LL