£2,125
Jewellery, Watches & Silver | 611
Auction: 15 September 2020 at 11:00 BST
unmarked, the first with rectangular matrix engraved with shield and crest, ribbed body and fancy knopped stem, wrythen decorated ring; another with engraved shield, crest and motto, 'Dulce periculum' (Danger is sweet) similar mounts; another with shield shaped carnelian panel engraved with a shield and crest; another similar with engraved rectangular carnelian matrix; another, oval engraved matrix with engraved oval shield, heavy cast body and hoop mount; the last with an engraved rectangular carnelian panel with three initials and crest of linked hands
Seal bottom centre as illustration
The Marital Arms of Purnell and Purnell
The arms as engraved upon the matrix of this early 19th to mid-19th Century Gentleman’s Gold and Cornelian Personal Seal or Signet dates to between 1826 to 18421 are those of the family of Purnell with an escutcheon of pretence for Purnell. 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 heiress2 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: Erminois on a fess between three lozenges gules as many cinquefoils argent (for Purnell) (in pretence) Erminois on a fess between three lozenges gules as many
cinquefoils argent (for Purnell)
Crest: Issuant from a mural crown argent charged with three
lozenges fesswise3 gules a demi-falcon rising proper holding
in the beak a cinquefoil slipped vert
These armorial bearings undoubtedly commemorate the marriage of Robert John
Hooper [later Purnell] (born 11th January 1789 died 29th November 1861), of Kingshill
House, Kingshill, near Dursley in the County of Gloucestershire and Mary Anne
Hughes (born 1786 died 12 September 1842), Robert and Mary were married at the
Parish Church of St Nicholas, Winsley in the County of Wiltshire on the 22nd
December 1810. Robert was the son of Robert Hooper, of Bradford in the County of
Wiltshire and his wife, Mary Baily,4 whilst Mary was the only child of The Reverend
Lewis Hughes, Vicar of Llanrhyddlad in the County of Anglesey. Mary was the niece
and eventual heiress of Lieutenant Colonel Purnell, of Kingshill House aforesaid who
most probably adopted the arms of Purnell upon the inheritance of her uncle’s estate.
At the same time according to certain authorities in pursuance of Colonel Purnell’s will,
Robert assumed the surname and arms of Purnell in 1826 which was recorded at The
College of Arms in the City of London.
Robert also served as a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Gloucestershire. Robert and Mary’s only son was The Reverend Thomas Purnell, of Boddington Manor, Boddington, near Cheltenham in the same county. He was the Vicar of Staverton-cum-Bodlington.