Circa 1731 this 3-sided carved intaglio seal spinner fob has been researched by the College of Arms in London and discovered to be the armorial arms belonging to Löwen of Sweden, likely Baron Johan Löwen. Steeped in historical wonder we can't help but speculate that this may have once been used by the Baron himself to seal his letters!
An incredibly rare and aristocratic piece it is made from steel which was probably gold gilded, remnants of gold can still be seen on the surface. According to college research the seal matrixes show 1 - Arms and Baron's coronet, 2 - Arms and Crest and 3 and finally 'J. L.' Monogram and Baron's coronet.
The frame at the top features ornate scroll and bead work and it has a generous sized hanging loop should you chose to wear this piece of history as a pendant or fob.
ITEM SPECIFICS:
MATERIALS: steel
SIZE: 1-3/4" (4.5cm) high, matrixes 5/8" (2.2cm) by 5/8" (1.7cm)
WEIGHT: 19.3 grams
DATE: c1730, Georgian (George II)
CONDITION: given a 300 year old age this wax seal remains in very good condition with expected surface wear. Each matrix still turns out a well defined impression and it spins freely with no sticking. Museum worthy, a wonderful collector's piece with so much history to explore!
We will include a copy of the email from the College of Arms that details their research
RESEARCH DETAILS taken from the College of Arms email:
"We have now been able to carry out a significant amount of work on this seal and confirm that the arms are those of Löwen of Sweden with a Swedish Baron's coronet above. According to J. B. Rietstap, in his Armorial General, 1887, the family were created Barons in 1731 and another branch were made Comtes in 1751. The monogram appears to be of mirror-image type (where the initials are repeated as if in a mirror), possibly 'J. L.' for Baron Johan Löwen (1697-1775). Stylistically, it appears to date from the period immediately following Baron Löwen's elevation to the Swedish peerage (1731). The arms given in Riestap (translation from the French) are described heraldically as:
Quarterly first and fourth, Azure a demi Eagle displayed Argent armed Gules divided per pale, second and third Sable a Lion rampant Or holding a Sword Argent garnished Or (that is, in the first and fourth quarters, a blue background with a silver eagle with red claws, the eagle divided vertically with the left side in the first quarter and the right side in the fourth quarter; in the second and third quarters, a black background with a gold rampant lion holding a silver sword with gold embellishments).
Crest: a Lion rampant Or holding between the paws the dexter half of an Eagle displayed Argent armed Gules (a gold rampant lion holding between the paws the left half (as you face it) of a silver eagle with red claws).
The three different sides of the seal show:
1. Arms and Baron's coronet
2. Arms and crest
3. 'J. L.' Monogram and Baron's coronet"
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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