Lot 213
A CASED PAIR OF SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA SEALS
EARLY 20TH CENTURY STEEL SEALS, ENGRAVED BY FRANK BOWCHER CIRCA 1903
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500
Auction: 17 September 2024 from 10:00 BST
Description
the larger of circular outline, engraved with the short post-1837 Royal Arms of Great Britain and Royal Mint stamp, within an inscription, ‘EDWARDUS VII D.G. BRITANNUARUM OMNIUM REX F.D. IND. IMP’; the smaller similarly inscribed, the Royal Arms within a belt border, both contained in a red morocco leather bound, velvet lined box retailed by Wickwar Manufacturer, Poland Street, London
Dimensions
6.6cm + 5.9cm (diameter)
Provenance
The Matrix Collection
Footnote
The secretary for State for India was created in 1858 when India was brought under direct British rule, known as the British Raj.
The role of the Indian Secretary was to therefore govern the British Indian Empire which included Aden, Burma and the Persian Gulf Residency. The secretary oversaw the Indian Council which consisted of 15 members. The Council was there to assist, but acted mainly as an advisory role.
These two seals were most likely made either for St. John Brodrick (Secretary for India 9 October 1903- 4th December 1905) or for John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley (1908) (secretary of State for India 10 December 1905 – 3 November 1910).
St. John Brodrick 1st Earl of Midleton (1856-1942) was a Conservative politician and was Secretary for War (1900-1903) during most of the second Boer War before embarking on his role as Secretary for State for India (1903-1905). He married Lady Hilda Charteris (the daughter of 10th Earl of Wemyss) in 1880 with whom he had 5 children, after her death he re-married and had two sons.
John Morley 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn on the other hand was a Gladstonian Liberal and opposed the eight-hour working day. He began his career originally when he was called to the bar before changing to become a journalist editing the newly Radical-Liberal Pall Mall Gazette from 1880 to 1883. Whilst Secretary for State in India he showed his tolerance by appointing two Indians to the council of India.
The seals themselves were engraved by Frank Bowcher (1864- 1938). Born to an etcher and cartoonist, following his training at the National Art Training School and then in Paris he was considered to represent the late 19th-century French style of medallists in Great Britain. Leonard Forrer, (1869-1953) the numismatic specialist and coin dealer with Spink and Son stated that Bowcher was “gifted with an uncommon faculty for creation, a genuine artistic feeling and manipulative dexterity”. His commissions were many and he shone particularly at portraiture following his first medal work for Tewfik Pacha, Khedive of Egypt in 1886. In 1903 he was appointed engraver to the Royal Mint. Pieces by his hand can be found in the Natural History Museum including a depiction of Charles Darwin, accession number 1019/05.
