{"product_id":"victorian-sterling-silver-wax-seal-desk-stamp-rathbone-family-crest-suaviter-et-fortiter-er-monogram-c-1890","title":"Victorian Sterling Silver Wax Seal Desk Stamp - Rathbone Family Crest - Suaviter et Fortiter - ER Monogram - c.1890","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA truly wonderful Victorian desk seal, now ready for a new desk.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a late Victorian sterling silver handled wax seal, heavily chased with scrolling acanthus and repoussé work, the cartouche hand-engraved with a script monogram \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eER\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe shield-shaped matrix is intaglio engraved with the arms of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRathbone family of Liverpool\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e - a prominent merchant family - showing the demi-lion crest over a Roman fasces with five bezants below, and the motto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSUAVITER ET FORTITER\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMildly and Firmly\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe seal is still sharp and will stamp beautifully.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese lived on a gentleman's writing desk and were used to seal correspondence with hot wax - a personal signature before signatures existed. The handle is hollow, as they all were, and has that lovely weight and patina only old sterling gets.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFound in fantastic condition - no splits, no repairs, monogram crisp, intaglio deep.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA perfect piece for a collector of heraldry, a Rathbone family descendant, or anyone who still writes letters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eMaterial: Tested sterling silver, hallmarks likely on edge of matrix (typical English)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAge: Circa 1880-1900\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eMonogram: ER in script\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e•\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eCrest: Rathbone - Suaviter et Fortiter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blackbird Vintage Finds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49110134194427,"sku":"VINT4861","price":475.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0362\/9645\/8379\/files\/FullSizeRender_69f40350-0eeb-44ac-9f14-0a23874d66cf.heic?v=1786052153","url":"https:\/\/www.blackbirdvintage.com\/products\/victorian-sterling-silver-wax-seal-desk-stamp-rathbone-family-crest-suaviter-et-fortiter-er-monogram-c-1890","provider":"Blackbird Vintage Finds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}