Six petal rosette

One compass opening, never changed. Walk it round its own circle and it closes in exactly six steps. Compass rosettes also decorate old chests and timbers in the German lands. It was the mark reported most often when Historic England asked the public to record ritual marks in old buildings, most of them from about 1550 to 1750. Whether it was meant to guard the house or was an apprentice mason practising with his compasses is still argued; both readings are on record.