Lot 222
THE CHESTER ASSAY OFFICE DESK SEAL
A MID 19TH CENTURY LACQUERED WOOD AND STEEL DESK SEAL
Estimate: £300 - £500
Auction: 17 September 2024 from 10:00 BST
Description
the baluster handle to a steel collar and circular matrix engraved with the coat of arms of Chester to a border engraved CHESTER ASSAY OFFICE
Dimensions
7.5cm (long overall), 2.5cm (matrix diameter)
Provenance
The Matrix Collection
Footnote
Chester Assay Office was granted an official Assay Office by an Act of Parliament in 1700. But it had had it's own Guild of Goldsmiths from the early 15th century. The coat of arms being the shield displays the trio of golden wheatsheaves on blue which have been associated with the Earldom of Chester since the late 12th century. Chester used similar date letter sequencing to that of the London Assay Office. The earliest pieces of Chester silver were struck with a hallmark depicting the three wheatsheaves and a sword in a shaped shield. In 1701 the assay mark changed to the Arms of Chester impaling those of the Earl of Chester (three lions), however it reverted back to the earlier mark in 1779, this assay mark remained the same until the offices closure in 1962.
