THE EARL OF MUNSTER DESK SEAL
A 19TH CENTURY CITRINE, BLOODSTONE AND GOLD SEAL, CIRCA 1831
£2,394
Auction: 17 October 2023 from 10:00 BST
Description
The facetted citrine handle to a gold floral embossed collar, the mount with similar decoration to a bloodstone oval matrix, engraved with armorial, presented in a fitted case, retailed by Murcott Brooke, Jewellers & Silversmiths, 83 Duke Street, Grosvenor Square
Dimensions
Length: 8.5cm, matrix: 2.7cm x 2.4cm
Footnote
Heraldry:
Arms: The Royal Arms of King William IV (without the Escutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire, and without the Crown of Hanover) debruised by a Baton Sinister Azure charged with three Anchors Or
The arms are ensigned with an earl’s coronet of rank.
Supporters:
(Dexter) A lion guardant ducally crowned or gorged with a collar azure charged with three anchors gold
(Sinister) A horse argent gorged with a collar azure charged with three anchors gold
Motto: Nec temere nec timide [Neither rashly nor tearfully]
Note:
George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, The 1st Earl of Munster (1794-1842) was the eldest illegitimate son of King William IV, by his mistress Dorothea Bland (who was known professionally as "Mrs Jordan"). He married Mary Wyndham Fox (died 3rd December 1842) at the Parish Church of St George, Hanover Square in the County of Middlesex on the 18th October 1819. Mary was the second illegitimate daughter of George O’Brien Wyndham, the 3rd Earl of Egremont, by his mistress Elizabeth Fox.
George was created as Baron Tewkesbury, Viscount FitzClarence and Earl of Munster (second creation) within the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
He joined the British Army in 1807 eventually reaching the rank of major general during which time he served as an Aide de Camp to the then Governor General of India. George served his father, the King as a Personal Aide de Camp and to his cousin Queen Victoria. He was at one time Lieutenant of the Tower of London and Constable of Windsor Castle. George was sworn as a Privy Councillor in 1833