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Fob seal: M.8-1908

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

  • Fob seal
  • 2 fob seals and a watch key on clasp
  • heraldic seal

Categories

Description

Two gold fob seals - one large and one small - and a gold plated watch key on a circular split ring clasp

Carved carnelian and chalcedony with gold embossed and chased mounts and gold plated base metal. The large fob seal has a rounded rectangular carnelian sealstone with intaglio coat-of-arms, crest and motto inscribed 'ESSE QUAM VIDERI'; the domed mount is decorated with flowers and scrolls; the hollow handle is formed as a lyre with floral sides and a loop at the top. The small fob seal has a rounded rectangular chalcedony sealstone with intaglio crest within a garter inscribed with the same motto; the domed mount is fluted; the handle is formed from four oponwork scrolls with a loop at the top. The gold plated base metal watch key has an open rectangular handle and a swivel loop. The three are linked by a circular split ring chased with flowerheads.

Legal notes

Given by J. Brooks Bumpstead

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1908-12) by Bumpstead, J. Brooks

Dating

19th Century, Early#
1800 - 1850

Components of the work

Watch Key composed of base metal
Large Sealstone composed of carnelian Length 2.2 cm Width 1.9 cm
Small Sealstone composed of chalcedony Length 1.3 cm Width 1 cm
Mount composed of gold
Split Ring composed of gold
Surface Of Key composed of gold
Key Height 0.3 cm Length 4 cm Width 1.9 cm
Small Seal Height 1.2 cm Length 2.3 cm Width 1.5 cm
Large Seal Height 2.2 cm Length 4.3 cm Width 2.5 cm

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: ESSE QUAM VIDERI
  • Location: Beneath the coat-of-arms on the large sealstone
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Motto
  • Text: ESSE QUAM VIDERI
  • Location: In a garter round the crest on the small sealstone
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Motto

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.8-1908
Primary reference Number: 150817

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 11 January 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Fob seal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150817 Accessed: 2024-04-20 12:11:21

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150817 |title=Fob seal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-20 12:11:21|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-150817

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