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 personal seal, for instance bearing their initials. This wheel is interesting because it provides its owner with six different seals, all with appropriate mottoes to choose from.
Its mechanism is made of ormulu, a gilding technique that was used as a substitute for gold, which has a purple paste handle. The wheel is set with six paste intaglios, each depicting a different motto.
The intaglios depict the following:
- White paste: A butterfly sitting on a heart: 'Tu Me Fixe' (I'm Set on You).
- Blue paste: 'I am Well'.
- Black paste: This seal is unfortunately too worn to read: it appears to depict a flying bird.
- Orange paste: A pair of winking eyes: 'Si se Laire' (If you have to be silent).
- Dark purple paste: A quill: ‘Me Guide Amor’ (love, guide me)
- Blue paste: the sun shining onto a flower: ‘Elle Vous Suit Partout’ (she follows you everywhere).
All mottos are depicted in mirror image, making them readable when pressed in hot wax: please note that I have flipped the image of the intaglios to make them readable.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 10 cm long: each seal measures 10 x 9 mm.
Weight: 34.30 grams
Age: Early 19th Century, also known as the Georgian era, circa 1830s.
Condition: In good antique condition with only minor signs of wear, consistent with age. The ormulu mechanism that holds the wheel is broken in the middle: although the wheel still sits securely in its place, it therefore turns a little less fluently than wen this holder would still be intact.