THE STEUART OF DALGUISE DESK SEAL
A FINE EARLY VICTORIAN CITRINE, AMETHYST AND GOLD DESK SEAL, CIRCA 1840
£2,520
Auction: 19 May 2023 from 10:00 BST
Description
the tapered facetted handle with flat top section engraved with the crest of demi-lion rampant and motto HINC ORIOR in banner above, the lower section of handle with a chased coiled snake above a facetted amethyst knop, the main blank matrix in deeply chased floral mount and with arched supports
Dimensions
Length: 80mm, matrices: 11mm x10mm and 26mm x 20mm
Footnote
Note:
The crest and motto are those of Steuart of Dalguise, Perthshire. The family was descended from Sir John Stewart of Arntullie and Cardneys, and designed of Dowallie, the youngest natural son of Robert II, King of Scotland, and Marion or Mariota, daughter of John de Cardney of that ilk, and sister Robert de Cardney, bishop of Dunkeld, 1396-1436. the crest and motto can be seen in the files incorporated in the coat of arms used as the bookplate of David Steuart (1747-1824), 5th son of John Steuart of Dalguise, and later bibliophile and Lord Provost of Edinburgh.