THE ARCHIBALD KENNEDY (1847-1938), 3RD MARQUESS OF AILSA AND EARL OF CASSILLIS, CULZEAN CASTLE DESK SEAL
A FINE MID-VICTORIAN CITRINE, BLOODSTONE AND GOLD MOUNTED DESK SEAL
£1,512
Auction: 19 May 2023 from 10:00 BST
Description
the facetted tapered citrine handle with engraved crest within garter with motto surmounted by coronet to pommel, the stylised leaf clasped mount enclosing a rounded square bloodstone matrix finely engraved with a view of Culzean Castle from the beach with ‘Culzean Castle’ engraved below, in a fitted case
Dimensions
Length: 97mm, matrix 21mm x 24mm
Provenance
Provenance:
Shapes, Edinburgh, 4 July 2009, lot 31
Matrix: A Collection of British Seals - David Morris 2012- Seal 30, page 77
Footnote
Note:
This seal was made for Archibald Kennedy, 3rd Marquess of Ailsa (1847-1938), who succeeded his father in 1870. He founded the Ailsa Ship Building Company in 1885 and spent much time restoring and improving the family seat of Culzean Castle. The Kennedy family which descends from Robert the Bruce, is one of the oldest families in Scotland, and the grandeur of the castle was intended to reflect its status. The present castle on the Ayrshire coast was designed by Robert Adam for David Kennedy, 10th Earl of Cassilis, to replace a simpler house. It was built in stages between 1777 and 1792 and incorporates a drum-shaped tower overlooking the Firth of Clyde and an elegant oval staircase. The 3rd Marquess's improvements included constructing a more practical entrance to keep out the fierce clifftop winds and rehanging the vast collection of weapons in the armoury. It is not surprising that he should choose this romantic view of the castle, taken from an engraving dated 1840 for this seal.