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Seal: O.108 A & B-1946

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Pair of red and grey soapstone seal with handles carved as a lion and cub, emblematic of the Emperor and Empress. These were used on documents dealing with the appointment of actors on matters relating to the Imperial palace guards, and various minor commands. The characters read: ’ Nourish your mind and cultivate your nature’

Notes

History note: 1900, after the relief of the Legations, these were looted by Cossacks who sold them for some brandy to an Irish-American journalist. He wishes to sell them to the British Museum for a ridiculous sum. There was a debate about them in Parliament in Jan.1902. At the end of Jan. they were bought by Harding at a sale at Debenham, Storr and Son, Covent Garden

Legal notes

Oscar C. Raphael Bequest, 1941, received 1946

Measurements and weight

Height: 21.4 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1946) by Raphael, Oscar C.

Dating

19th Century
1800 - 1899

Components of the work

Handles

Materials used in production

Soapstone

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.108 A & B-1946
Primary reference Number: 167903
Oscar Raphael: 35
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 17 December 2018 Last processed: Friday 8 December 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) "Seal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/167903 Accessed: 2024-11-15 00:54:38

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/167903 |title=Seal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-15 00:54:38|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-167903

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa37/O_108A_26B_1946_200803_mfj22_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Seal"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Seal</figcaption>
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