£1,625
Jewellery, Watches & Silver | 611
Auction: 15 September 2020 at 11:00 BST
unmarked, the matrix well carved hardstone with foil backing, with full armorials and motto for Murray in pretence with Phipps, the mount with well modelled game birds and hunting dog, foliate decorated support
The Marital Arms of Murray of Dunerne and Phipps
The arms as engraved upon the matrix of this Georgian Gentleman’s Gold and Citrine Personal Seal or Signet dates to between 1807 to 1827 are those of the family of Murray of Dunerne with an escutcheon of pretence for Phipps. These armorial bearings denote the marshalling of a marital coat showing the quartered arms of the husband over the entire surface of the shield, whilst the arms of the wife as a heraldic heiress are placed on a small shield (known as an escutcheon of pretence) centrally upon the husband’s arms. These arms may be blazoned as follows:
Arms: Or a fetterlock azure within a bordure embattled gules on a chief of the second three mullets argent2 (for Murray) Pendant below the arms is the Baronet’s badge of Nova Scotia (or Scotland).
(in pretence) Sable a trefoil slipped within an orle of eight mullets argent (for Phipps)
Crest: A dexter hand brandishing a flaming sword proper
Supporters: Two ancient warriors (?) proper
Motto: Deum time [Fear God]
These armorial bearings undoubtedly commemorate the marriage of Major General Sir John Murray of Dunerne, the 8th Baronet (born circa 1768 died 15th October 1827 ) and The Honourable Anne Elizabeth Cholmley Phipps (born 1788 died 10th April 1848). John and Anne were married at the Parish Church of St Marylebone, Marylebone in the County of Middlesex on the 25th August 1807. John was the second son of Sir Robert Murray of Dunerne, the 6th Baronet and his second wife, Susan Renton of Lamberton, the eldest daughter of John Renton of Lamberton in the County of Berwickshire, whilst Anne was the only child and heiress of Constantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave of New Ross5 and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Cholmley.
John was a career officer in the British Army and was at one-time the Quartermaster General in India between 1801 and 1805. He also served as the Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett between 1807 and 1811 and for Weymouth between 1811 and 1818. Sir John as he was then led a brigade under the command of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War and he was appointed as the Colonel of the 56th Regiment of Foot in 1818 and some seven years later he was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1825. John was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order (of Hanover) in 1817 and succeeded his half-brother, General Sir James Murray Pulteney, 6 the 7th Baronet on the 26th April 1811.