This 19th-century wax seal wheel is not only practical but also an impressive little artwork to exhibit on one's desk! In the early 19th Century, letters were often sealed with hot wax. Most avid letter writers would have their own personal seal, for instance bearing their initials. This wheel is interesting because it provides its owner with 5 different seals, all with their own appropriate motto, to choose from.
Its mechanism is made of ormulu, an gilding technique that was used as a substitute for gold, which has a faceted green glass handle. The wheel is set with five intaglio's of different gemstones, which are either dyed agates or paste simulants, each depicting a different motto.
The intaglios depict the following:
- Bloodstone: reads 'Pensez Aux Suites' translating loosely to 'Thinking about the follow-up'.
- Blue agate: A ship at sea, reading: 'Telle est la Vie' translating to 'Such is Life'.
- Pink Chalcedony: Ivy climbing around a tree: 'Je Meurs ou je m'attache' translating to 'I Die Where I Get Attached'.
- Citrin: A bird perched on a branch, reading: 'Mon Amour Dure Apres La Mort' translating to 'My Love Lasts After Death'.
- White Chalcedony: A harp, reading: 'Je Reponde a la Touche' translating to: 'I Respond to the Key'.
All mottos are printed in mirror image, making them readable when pressed in hot wax: please note that I have flipped the images of the intaglios to make them readable.
The fact that each motto is in French does not mean it was necessarily used by a Frenchman: French was the common language used by the upper classes all throughout Europe, and this seal was originally part of the collection of a Dutch noble family.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 88 x 33 mm.
Weight: 36 grams
Age: Early 19th Century, also known as the Georgian era, circa 1830s.
Material: Gilded metal, glass, and various gemstones.
Condition: In good antique condition with minor signs of wear, consistent with its age. The white chalcedony seal has a chip at the side, which can be seen in the pictures.