Fob seal
Category
Jewellery
Date
1810 (circa)
Materials
Gold, agate, leather, velvet and metal.
Measurements
30 mm (Height)
Collection
Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
NT 288804
Summary
A gold fob seal dating from around 1810. The octagonal-shaped banded grey agate seal stone is engraved with full armorials. It is bezel set in an octagonal gold frame; engraved sunburst mount and carved gold pedestal. The seal is presented in its original triangular red leather box.
Full description
This is probably the fob seal recorded in the 1886 inventory of the family jewel case as 'Morocco / red / case containing large seal with quarterings' (Derbyshire Record Office, D2375/H/F/2/27).
Provenance
Fob seal in case made around 1810 and probably recorded at Calke Abbey as 'large seal with quarterings' in 1886. Thence by descent to Henry Harpur-Crewe (1921-91) and transferred with Calke Abbey and its contents to the National Trust by the Treasury in lieu of Capital Transfer Tax in 1985 with an endowment provided by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.