Two 19th century gold mounted fob seals relating to the Dutton and Sherborne families
£1,250
Auction: 15 September 2020 at 11:00 BST
Description
both unmarked, the earlier in rose gold with bloodstone matrix and armorials with Baron's coronet for Dutton, Baron Sherborne and Legge, ribbed metal decoration and turned support, the other in yellow gold with chalcedony matrix with Baron's coronet for Mary Dutton, the Dowager Baroness Sherborne, ribbed detail to the metalwork and scrolling support
Dimensions
Seals overall height: 34mm, matrices:18mm x 21mm and 15mm x 19mm
Footnote
The Marital Arms of Dutton, Baron Sherborne and Legge
The arms as engraved upon the matrix of this early 19th to mid-19th Century Gold and Cornelian Gentleman’s Personal Seal or Signet which dates to between 1820 and 1862 are those of the family of Dutton, Baron Sherborne impaling Legge. These armorial bearings denote the marshalling of a marital coat showing on the dexter (the heraldic right on the left as you view the piece) the arms of the husband and on the sinister (the heraldic left on the right as you view it) the arms of the wife. These armorial bearings may be blazoned as follows:
Arms:
(on the dexter) Quarterly argent and gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a fret or (for Dutton)
(on the sinister) Quarterly 1st and 4th Azure a buck’s head cabossed argent (for Legge) 2nd and 3rd Gules a cross of lozenges argent (for Stawell1)
The arms are ensigned with a baron’s coronet.
Supporters: Two wolves proper collared gules charged with three garbs or
Motto: Servabo fidem [I will keep the faith] (for Dutton)
These arms undoubtedly commemorate the marriage of John Dutton, the 2nd BaronSherborne (born 24th June 1779 died 19th October 1862) and the Honourable MaryLegge (born 22nd June 1780 died 21st October 1864). John and Mary were marriedat the Parish Church of St George, Hanover square in the County of Middlesex on the11th August 1803. John was only son of James Dutton, the 1st Baron Sherborne, ofSherborne in the County of Gloucestershire and his wife, Elizabeth Coke, whilstMary was the only child and heiress of Henry Stawell Bilson Legge, the 2nd Baron Stawell and his wife, The Honourable Mary Curzon.4 John succeeded his father as the 2nd Baron Sherborne on the 22nd May 1820.
The Arms of Mary Dutton, the Dowager Baroness Sherborne
The arms as engraved upon the matrix of this Victorian Gold and Bloodstone Widow’s Personal Seal or Signet which dates in all probability to between 1862 and 1864 are those of the family of Dutton, Baron Sherborne. These armorial bearings may be blazoned as follows:
Arms:
(upon a lozenge) Quarterly argent and gules in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a fret or (for Dutton)
The arms are ensigned with a coronet of a baroness.
Supporters: Two wolves proper collared gules charged with three garbs or
This personal seal or signet was upon the balance of probability and without any evidence to the contrary was used by Mary Dutton, the Dowager Baroness Sherborne during her short widowhood of a little shy of two years. The Honourable Mary Legge (born 22nd June 1780 died 21st October 1864) married John Dutton, the 2nd Baron Sherborne (born 24th June 1779 died 19th October 1862) on the 11th August 1803 at the Parish Church of St George, Hanover Square in the County of Middlesex. John was only son of James Dutton, the 1st Baron Sherborne, of Sherborne in the County of Gloucestershire1 and his wife, Elizabeth Coke,2 whilst Mary was the only child and heiress of Henry Stawell Bilson Legge, the 2nd Baron Stawell and his wife, The Honourable Mary Curzon.3 John succeeded his father as the 2nd Baron Sherborne on the 22nd May 1820.