23rd Nov, 2022 10:00
Fine Jewellery and Watches
18
A hardstone and gold desk seal, English, mid 19th century
A hardstone and gold desk seal, English, mid 19th century,
the handle of mottled russet agate, of faceted tapering form with a round fungus cap. A plumed gold collar and gadrooned cushion mount with scroll border, with a cushion shaped chalcedony matrix. The matrix seal engraved with a crest and coat of arms, the crest a boar's head and neck couped. Tested as approximately 15ct gold. 70 x 24mm, 42.83g
Provenance: from the Matrix Collection of Historic Hand Seals.
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Desk Seals | Single-Owner Collection
Our November 23 Fine Jewellery sale includes a selection of seals from the Matrix Collection of Historic Hand Seals. The Matrix Collection, curated by David Morris, includes seals and related objects from across Europe, from the Medieval period through to the 19th century, with a focus on items hailing from Great Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. Though the collection contains seals of everyday use, emphasis has been given to those seals which have a connection with historic events, helping to record the story of our past. A part catalogue of the collection was published in 2012.
Sold for £500
Condition Report
The dexter coat Gules a chevron between three boar's heads couped is recorded for several families, none of whom specifically use the crest of a boar's head and neck couped; these include Bethell of London (no crest recorded, but other branches use a boar's head out of a coronet), Davis of co. Salop (different crest, but branches also use boar's head erased), Thirlway of Cumberland and Tresher (crests not recorded for either), and White or Whyte (boar's head out of a mural coronet). Also recorded, the boars' heads in different tinctures, are Bradley (usual crest a boar passant) and Burton (no crest). The impalement is equally uncertain, the 1st and 4th quarters being recorded (with fleur-de-lys in various tinctures) for Millecent of Cambridge, Yawkins and Brown of Scotland, and several branches of Fanshaw, and the 2nd and 3rd quarters (the tinctures reversed) for Ridor, Rowdon or Roydon. If the tinctures of the 1st and 4th quarters were also reversed in error, this is recorded for Hart of co. York, and a note in Papworth's Ordinary mentions that Davis of co. Salop quarters Hart (although a blazon is not given and there are many other branches of this family with different armorials). The Hart-Davis family is recorded in Burke's Landed Gentry of 1952, but their arms are not given.
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Auction: Fine Jewellery and Watches, 23rd Nov, 2022
Viewing
VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT
We will be offering viewing by appointment only, to be held at our London Gallery, Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4EZ:
Monday 7 November - 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Tuesday 8 November - 11.00am - 4.00pm
Wednesday 9 November - 11.00am - 4.00pm
Thursday 10 November - 11.00am - 4.00pm
Friday 11 November - 11.00am - 4.00pm
Saturday 12 November - 11.00 - 3.00pm
Viewing to be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE:
Thursday 17 November - 9.30am - 4.30pm
Friday 18 November - 9.30am - 4.30pm
Saturday 19 November - 10.00am - 2.00pm
Sunday 20 November - 10.00am - 2.00pm
Monday 21 November - 9.30am - 4.30pm
Tuesday 22 November - 9.30am - 4.30pm
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