Seal & Scribe's Love Letters collection, by San Diego-based jeweler Shari Cohen is a celebration of romance and a nostalgic journey through the world of glyptics.
The romanticism of this exquisite capsule collection of ancient seals expertly mounted in rings by Shari is well represented by Eros/Cupidus and in Latin, Amor, god of divine love. Anyone who wears these signet rings will be in harmony with the motto that each one carries. A message that comes from ancient times but still remains relevant today. The glyptics’ roots trace back to the Ptolemaic era, traversing ancient Greece and Rome. Rings served as seals to close correspondence, a tradition that regained popularity during the Renaissance and the Neoclassical period. For instance, Caroline Bonaparte, Queen of Naples, was an avid enthusiast of ancient glyptics, influencing the incorporation of this trend into jewelry. From there, it spread to France during the Napoleonic era and to Great Britain during Georgian and Victorian periods.
The term “intaglio” is derived from the Italian verb “intagliare“, meaning to carve. It’s a sculptural technique where a design is engraved into a material of various types. In contrast to cameos, which feature raised figures, intaglios have designs incised onto the surface of a gem or a glass, making them well-suited for seals. Historically, these engraved designs, when inked, were used to imprint images or monograms onto wax or clay. This unique characteristic made intaglios particularly ideal for creating seals that could authenticate documents or letters. This intersection of artistry and functionality showcases the enduring charm of the Love Letters Collection, capturing the essence of a bygone era in each meticulously crafted piece.
To read the full article, please follow the link: https://www.celebremagazine.world/watches-jewels/chronicles-of-love-an-enchanting-journey-with-the-love-letters-jewelry-collection/
]]>"Vintage. Color. Signet rings. Three elements of jewelry sitting on the current list of what’s hot among consumers. Putting them all together results in something more niche, though no less temptingly exquisite, with San Diego jeweler Seal & Scribe‘s latest line as proof: Love Letters, a gorgeous offering that celebrates long-ago love.
Featuring intaglios from the Georgian and Victorian eras, the Love Letters capsule collection builds on designer Shari Cohen’s familiarity with the signet ring, combining these colorful amulets from bygone times with modern, wearable styles. Each ring is one-of-a-kind, spotlighting the features of the antique seal in it."
There are three broad categories of seals, Cohen explains: glass Tassie seals, the type used in her collection, hardstone seals (made of carnelian, bloodstone, or agates), and gemstone seals (amethyst, citrine, clear quartz, and occasionally sapphire). “Working with glass seals proves the most challenging because the material can be brittle and sometimes contains artifice that got into the molds, like small pieces of debris that are like a sand grain, or sometimes air bubbles,” she says.
To read the full article, please head over to JCK Magazine here: https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/seal-scribe-love-letters/
]]>"I’ve been looking forward to sharing today’s post with you since last year, when Shari of Seal & Scribe called me to tell me she was creating this new collection with antique seals and would my readers be interested in hearing about it? Now it’s here and I can’t wait to show you!
First things first: what’s a wax seal? Before modern adhesives, letters were sealed with wax. For special missives, letter writers could add another layer of meaning by pressing a seal into the molten wax before it hardened so that it would leave an impression: a reverse image of any symbols or words engraved on the seal’s surface. This could be a coat of arms, a monogram or – the most fun – images or saying that communicated something about the letter writer’s feelings for the recipient.
People would wait weeks to hear from their loved ones, and when word arrived through the mail, the first thing they would see would be whatever tiny, precisely carved message had been pressed into the missive’s wax seal."
To read the full article, please head over to Becky's website here: https://diamondsinthelibrary.com/seal-scribe-antique-seals-love-letters/
]]>By Rachael Taylor
A winged, cherubic Cupid softly stoops to better deal with his load: a wheelbarrow tipped to overflow with hearts. Above his head arcs the French word choisissez; each letter carefully carved onto a mould in an imperfect script that could only have been made by hand, and then cast in bottle-green glass. Choose, it implores us… choose love.
Shari Cohen, founder of San Diego-based jewellery house Seal & Scribe, has indeed chosen. Love Letters, a collection of nine rings set with antique seals, celebrates romance in all its forms.
Each has a pleasingly quixotic sentiment, with inscriptions including il est a vous (he’s yours) and sempre più t'amo (I love you more and more). Some rely on imagery alone, such as the Seal & Scribe ring titled The Higher They Fly, The Tighter The Bond, which has at its centre an aqua glass seal with an engraving of two birds holding a knotted rope between them as one flies off.
To read the full article, please head over to Rachael's website here: https://www.rachaeltaylorwrites.com/jewelsofnote/love-letters-seal-and-scribe
The Livery companies of the City of London have played an integral part in the development of the city. So much so that even today, the activities of the various liveries are intertwined with the daily life of the Square Mile. Often beginning life in medieval times as a loose association of tradesman with similar interests, they grew into what were essentially trade bodies. These organizations were also a brotherhood of sorts, founded originally on religious principles, but also utilized as a safety net for their members in times of hardship, illness, injury, etc.
The liveries grew to become so important that if you wanted to work in a particular trade in the city then you needed to do your time. First as an apprentice learning your trade. Accountable to your master for many years before becoming a freeman of the city after the apprenticeship was completed. The companies governed who could trade. Membership of one was essential if you wanted to make your own way in life.
Becoming a freeman was important as once awarded such status you could ply your trade and become your own man. Until such time though all apprentices would have been at the whim of the master of the company. It was those decisions as to their future which would have been of great importance.
In this blog post, we look at the 'Great 12 Liveries' of London, and their coat of arms, which are often cheeky, sometimes perplexing, but always glorious, and a reminder of their importance in their time.
In 1516 the livery companies were given an order of precedence by the Lord Mayor of the time. The precedence list was basically ordered around wealth and some of the companies were incredibly wealthy and very powerful. At the time there were only 48 companies but the ranks have now grown to 108. Out of the original 48, a ‘Great 12’ was created. These were the 12 most powerful and influential companies in the City of London controlling all sorts of aspects of daily life and trade, but they all still play an important role in the life of the City of London.
The word ‘Mercer’ comes from the Latin term for merchandise and the Mercers’s were generally traders. The ‘Mercery’ was a market area which existed around the church of St. Mary Le Bow in the City of London. According to the Worshipful Company of Mercer’s themselves, a Mercer “might have run a shop or market stall selling fabrics and accessories”. Mercers might also have been traders who moved from town to town selling goods. The present Mercer’s Hall is on Ironmonger Lane in London.
Originally known as the Ancient Guild of Pepperers, the name was changed in 1376 to the Company of Grocer’s. Its first royal charter was granted in 1428 by Henry VI. The original Pepperer’s were responsible for ‘garbling’ which was the prevention of the impairment of spices and drugs, hence the cloves that are prominent upon it's shield, and the camel on its crest which likely represents the areas of the world where spices came from. They were also responsible for the Kings Beam from which goods were weighed and so become responsible for weights and measures. The term ‘Grocer’ comes from the Latin ‘Grossarius’, meaning a person who works with large amounts of trade goods. The present Grocer’s Hall is on Princes Street in London.
The Draper’s would have traded in wool and cloth, hence a golden sheep as it's majestic crest. Drapers had powers to regulate the woollen cloth trade in the City. It controlled the sale of Cloth at Cloth Fairs and determined the unit of measurement by which wool and cloth was sold. The word drapery comes from the Latin ‘Drappus’ and is a general term referring to cloths and textiles. The company itself had its first Royal Charter issued in 1364. The Draper’s Hall is on Throgmorton Street in London.
The Fishmonger’s were granted their first Royal Charter by Edward I in 1272. At one time they enjoyed a monopoly in trade of fish in the city. As fish was such a staple part of the diet and the city being intimately connected to the Thames and the Sea, this increased the influence of the company significantly. The Sea, marine folklore, and fish all play prominent and whimsical roles in this livery's coat of arms. Now the company still maintains links with its past and provides support for a number of fish and fisheries related organisations. The Fishmongers Hall is on the city side of London Bridge on the banks of the Thames.
The Goldsmith’s were responsible for testing the quality and Gold and Silver and regulated the trade of the Goldsmith. The word ‘hallmark’ comes from the time when craftsmen were required to bring their goods to the hall for ‘assaying and marking’. We love the scales for weighing gold that appear as this livery's crest, as well as the gold garter buckles and orbs (meant for royalty and those of the highest social standing), and the leopard's head, which is still the assay mark for London and was first used in 1300 as the King's mark of authentication, introduced by Edward I to protect and preserve the standards of gold and silver wares. It was also responsible (and still is) for checking the quality of the coins produced by the Royal Mint. This is a process called ‘The Trial of the Pyx’. The name ‘Pyx’ refers to the chests in which the coins were transported. It derives from the ‘Pyx chamber’ in Westminster Abbey where the chests were kept. The ‘Trial’ is named after the Metal Plate against which the coins are tested against. The Goldsmiths Hall is on Foster Lane in London.
Determining presidence must have been tricky. For positions six and seven the issue became insurmountable especially with feelings running high and honour at stake. The Skinners and the Merchant Taylor’s had a history. In 1484 it turned to violence during the Lord Mayor’s river procession. With such a delicate scenario, a solution was devised which meant that the Skinners and the Merchant Taylors changed position every year. It is thought that the phrase “at sixes and sevens” came about because of the dispute.
The Merchant Taylor’s were given their first Royal Charter by Edward III in 1327. Initially an association of citizens who worked as Tailors and Linen Armourers. The company grew to such an extent that it controlled the tailoring trade. Linen Armourers made the padded tunics worn underneath suits of armour and these were important pieces of clothing in a City often at the heart of warfare. This livery utilizes a sheep as their crest, as well as the royal capes they would have made. Their camel supporters may have originated as a nod to exotic camel hair, used for the finest cloaks. The Merchant Taylor’s Hall is on Threadneedle Street (quite appropriately) in the City of London.
The Skinners had their origin in the fur trade which back in medieval times was an extremely luxury item. Expensive as it was to import, it was a status item and its use was strictly controlled. Different types of fur were restricted to different classes. Ermine and Sable for example was only for Royalty and the Aristocracy. Common folk had to make do with less exotic furs from Rabbit or Cat. This livery utilizes cats and what looks to be a weasel, as their crest and supporters. The Company was granted its first Royal Charter in 1327 by Edward III. Skinners Hall is at 8 Dowgate Hill in London.
Haberdashers sold things such as ribbons, gloves, pins and caps and Hats. The company first received its Royal Charter in 1448. The Haberdashers were joined by the Hatmaker’s Fraternity in 1502. This meant that there were two groups representing Haberdashers of Small Wares and Haberdashers of Hats. Haberdashers Hall can be found at 18 West Smithfield in London.
Salt was an important commodity in medieval times as it was used extensively to preserve meat and fish. The importance of Salt as a commodity goes back years and the word ‘Sal’ is the origin of the word ‘Salary’ as Roman soldiers were given salt rations. Other uses for salt included cleaning, dyeing fabric, bleaching, degreasing, dehairing and softening leather. Salters were experts in the dry salting of meat and fish. They would also have been aware of the many other ways in which salt could be of benefit in medieval daily life. We love the salt spilling out from each side of these wonderful salt urns, which elevate the humble salt to it's rightful place of importance. The company received its first license from Richard II in 1394. Salters Hall is on Fore Street in London.
Originally known as the Ferroners the Ironmongers Company regulated the quality of iron which would have been used extensively in the wheels of carts used to transport goods. We love how the flourishes and the front grill of the knight's helmet give the look of flames that would be found at an ironworks. The Salamander is the heraldic symbol of protection, perhaps adopted here due to the various injuries that might have occurred back then whilst working with foundries, fire, and hot metals. They were given their Royal Charter in 1463 by Edward IV. After the iron industry moved into the North and Midlands, the Ironmongers Company shifted tack to works within philanthropy and education. Nestled within the Barbican estate the Ironmongers Company can be found on Shaftsbury Place, a little alley off Aldersgate.
Vintners controlled the important wine trade in medieval England and its first charter of 1363 gave it a monopoly for trade with Gascony. As wine made up one third of all the imports at this time then controlling the trade route to a major wine production centre was important. We adore the ship taking it's place as the crest, a nod no doubt to wine coming from France to England, as well as the barrels on the crest (for French brandy and other spirits), and the elegant swans with their necklaces of grapes! It shows a bit of humor to go with the act of drinking! Today the Vintners Company still retains the right to sell wine without license in the City of London but a lot of its other purpose has changed to more charitable works. The Vintners Hall can be found on Upper Thames Street in London.
The Clothworkers were formed following the amalgamation of the Fullers and the Shearmen in 1528. 'Fullers' were people who prepared cloth ready to use by removing the impurities such as the grease and dirt, the process of ‘fullering’ would also thicken the cloth. 'Shearmen' were finishers of cloth and would further prepare the material ensuring that the surface of the material was even and loose fibres removed. This is one of three of the 'Great 12' liveries that uses a sheep or ram as its crest, and deservedly so as they worked on refining spun wool to create the highest quality fabrics of the times. They also have what appears to be a thistle on their shield, perhaps a nod to the Fullers having to remove impurities like thistles and burrs from the cloth. Also noted on the shield are ermine, perhaps to denote the high quality of their finished cloth, fit for royalty. The Clothmakers Hall is on Dunster Court in Mincing Lane.
We hope you've enjoyed learning a bit about London's 12 Great Liveries, their history, and their wonderful coat of arms. If you have any comments or queries, please feel free to leave a comment!
With thanks to https://inspiringcity.com
]]>We're so excited to begin a series which we've been contemplating for months now, our Seal & Scribe Collector's Series, an homage to those clients who have become collectors of S&S! We are starting off with our beautiful client, Diane, who has a passion for our Solid Gold line.
As Seal & Scribe has grown, so too has our clientele who have become collectors of S&S. It's fascinating to see what sort of pieces a client will add to their collection, and as we begin to understand what draws a particular client to a specific piece we will reach out to them when something comes our way that seems like a good match. It's very much like matchmaking, but with jewelry!
In this example, our client, Diane, has a deep love for our Solid Gold line and is building a very lovely and cohesive collection. Her first S&S piece was our Love Story Bangle (lower right), which is hand-pulled 18k gold, with three 18k hand-cast seal charms set in 18k white gold. It's a 'love' theme and is the sort of bracelet that one can wear with anything, at any time!
Next came her acquisition of our Love Shield (upper right & lower left) - do you see a theme emerging here?! For the inscription on the reverse, our client chose an age old motto that is often found on seals - Qui me néglige, me perd or Who neglects me, loses me - words to affirm ones' self worth, yes?
Most recently, our client added our new Starry Night necklace to her growing collection. She chose our 'The Strongest Can Be Frightened of Nothing' piece (upper left), a sage reminder to go boldly into the world never letting fear hold you back. A trio of three very special pieces, each one telling its own story, but when combined, tell a new story of a collector's passion for talismans of love and empowerment.
Our hope, as with all our pieces, is that she will enjoy them for many years to come, and one day pass them on to the next generation, filled with the stories of her life!
]]>As a lover and researcher of Family Crests and Coats of Arms, we thought it might be interesting to show and explain the differences in how heraldic devices are used for men versus for women. We most commonly think of heraldry as a mark of familial standing and one that is more often used for men, however women too have their own way of using such devices to denote their family and social standing.
In the above triptych painting (c.1503), we see a portrait of the first three children of Philip of Habsburg and Juana of Spain. They are from left to right: Eleanor (who became Eleanor of Austria, Dowager Queen of Portugal & Dowager Queen of France), Charles V, and Isabella (who became Isabella of Austria, Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden). What is interesting to a heraldry appreciator is the difference between the coats of arms for the two sisters versus their brother, who was the eldest male child. For the girls, their coat of arms are identical, but the left side is left blank, presumably one day their husbands familial arms will be placed there. But as children they remain blank, yet notice the shape the arms are placed upon. They are a diamond or 'lozenge' shape, which denotes the arms of an unmarried woman of an important family or family of high social standing.
The arms for Charles, the eldest male child, are more or less the same, however they are fully represented and placed upon a shield. Why lozenge vs. shield? Because men went to battle and a shield was considered necessary armor for protection during battles. Since women did not go to battle in those days, they had no need for a shield and thus their arms were placed on shapes that would not be confused with a traditional shield shape. In addition to Charles' coat of arms being on a shield and fully represented across the entire surface of the shield, we also see his paternal grandfather's crown (Emperor Maximilian I) atop his arms. In addition to the 'family crown' we also see the Order of the Golden Fleece wrapping around the entire coat of arms, and we also see this young boy wearing a child-sized version of the same Order of the Golden Fleece around his little neck in the painting.
Below is a portrait of Charles V's father, wearing the adult-sized Order of the Golden Fleece round his ermine collar. Note his facial details and how alike they seem to be to his son's in the above painting, both having similar eyes, nose and mouths, not to mention the same chins! We also see some of the imagery of Charles V's coat of arms represented on his father's clothing - talk about announcing who you are to the room.There's nothing subtle about Philip's garb as it makes very clear how important he is!
There is much more that could be said about these images, but if you've any specific questions, please ask in the comments below. We hope you've enjoyed this little peek into the differences between heraldic imagery and devices for men versus women.
]]>Turno Tempus Erit OR For Turnus There Will Come A Time
This special ring features a Sardonyx stone with beautiful white stripe running across the center of the seal itself. A rose in bloom with a rosebud - symbolizing dethroned King James (open rose) and his son Prince Charlie (rosebud) - with the motto Turno Tempus Erit or For Turnus there will come a time. A rather obscure reference but this appears to have been taken from the Xth book of Virgils Aeneid. Turnus had killed Aeneas' friend, Pallas. Later when Aeneas overcame Turnus, the King of the Rutuli, in battle, he was about to spare his life, however he noticed that Turnus was wearing Pallas' gold sword belt. He was so incensed that he killed him in retribution. This motto and story shows the classical ideas which the 18th century Jacobites placed themselves under. Seeing the cause as such an important and God-given right, in this case Turnus represents the Hanoverian Duke of Cumberland, their foe in many battles, and the Stuarts as Aeneas. Although a motto rarely seen, it is also recorded on a Jacobite wine glass within the Drambuie Collection. A gorgeous and historic seal nonetheless!
Redii (Ready)
This beautiful citrine seal has the motto Redii (probably a variation on 'ready') above an image of another open blooming rose with two rosebuds - symbolizing both Prince Charlie and his brother, Henry - along with a thistle, the flower and symbol of Scotland. This would have been a very discreet way of showing one's allegiance to the return of a House of Stuart reign.
The Rose Thats Like The Snaw (Snow)
This gorgeous bloodstone signet ring depicts an open blooming rose, with the motto, The Rose That's Like the Snaw (snow)' - a line from a Robert Burns poem, waxing prosaic about the Scottish white rose, which was the symbol of the House of Stuart. So simple, so subtle, and by reciting a line of a Burns' poem, nobody could assume it also did double duty as a secret sign that the owner was a Bonnie Prince Charlie sympathizer. How clever!
Je Ne Change Que'n Mourant / I Do Not Change Except in Death
This carnelian seal proclaims its owner is steadfast and loyal. Not necessarily used only during the Jacobite period, this sentiment is thought to be another possible Jacobite seal, which again, is subtle enough that one could not assume its owner was a Jacobite, but with a few well-placed questions that could surely be determined!
Seal of James Francis Edward (aka James VIII and III)
Last but not least, we have a gold seal bearing the portrait of James Francis Edward, aka James VIII and III, the father of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Surely a more robust and blunt declaration of allegiance to returning a Stuart to the throne, but a beautiful seal nonetheless. The owner must have been someone who would not be afraid to declare his loyalties to someone other than King George.
We do hope you've enjoyed this brief romp through Jacobite seals. If you know of other examples of seals of this period, we'd love to hear about that in the comments section, cheers!
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"For most of my life, I’ve been accused of being 'too nice'. And over the years, some have even gone so far as to say that I am a 'doormat'. In my thirties and forties this was something I really worked on, and I developed a LOT more confidence and learned how to speak my mind and say 'no' when I wanted to. One day in my late forties, I had just kicked a guy to the curb because he was not treating me in the way that I deserved or wanted to be treated. I was scrolling through the Seal & Scribe site (I’d been following on Instagram for quite some time) and one necklace jumped out at me - it depicts a bird flying out of a cage. The motto is in French and it says Qui me Néglige Perd, and in English it translates to Who Neglects Me, Loses Me. It was exactly spot on to what I was feeling! I ordered it that day as a reminder that I am in control of my life and who is in it. I never need to stay in a relationship, romantic or platonic, where I am not treated appropriately.
This necklace has become a talisman for me. It’s so subtle that when I wear it, people really have no clue about its meaning to me, and just seeing it in my jewelry box makes me smile!"
~ Amy ~
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"I first came across Seal & Scribe on Instagram when they had a storytelling competition to find a piece that you identified with. When I saw the I Will Return piece I was instantly intrigued by the sentiment and symbolism that I naturally link to a life I know, a life at sea. The words I Will Return, engraved on the pendant, are the words we whisper as we leave our homes - be it on land or at sea - our loved ones, and our familiarity. I Will Return is not only a promise to those we leave behind, but also a pact we unconsciously make with ourselves. I Will Return gives everyone a sense of hope and comfort, wherever you may be. We have a long tradition of nautical affiliations with these words. The sparrow, for example, is a symbol of safe return home or a victory earned through a hardship endured. I WILL RETURN. Three little words I'd love to hear more often.
"I bought the I Will Return necklace in late 2018, with the hope that it, and the new year, would bring new and exciting adventures, including returning to our company's flagship in the highest position as Master. The delicate inscription on the antique intaglio seal seemed perfectly fitting for a 2019 motto. With this in mind, it was a reminder to be a reflection of what you'd like to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want truth, be truthful. What you give out WILL ALWAYS RETURN.
"The meaning of this piece has evolved for me, because it's not just what I intended for it to mean. Now, I have so many wonderful memories that go along with it, whether it was with me at important events, gorgeous places, or when I was with people who mean the world to me. And when I wear it, it's a guarantee that someone will comment and ask about my piece. The comments are usually, "What a unique piece, what is it?" They love the explanation and the history attached to it! And the quality of the piece is just so beautiful. It's sturdy and feminine. It's rich and practical. But above anything, it is just so special.
~ Captain Kate McCue ~
1. Metal seals
Metal seals come in a variety of metals that were available during Georgian and Victorian times. One can find all-metal seals in gold, silver, brass and copper, as well as 'pot' metal which is a mixture of non-precious metals. Engraving into metal would give a seal a very crisp level of detail because etching into metal provides a certain quality of stability and hardness to etch into, and even the smallest of engraving tools can leave crisp, clean lines in the image and text on an all-metal seal. Such seals were primarily used for seals that required a very high level of detail, such as family crests and coat of arms, royal ciphers, monograms, etc.
2. Hard Stone seals
Hard stone seals tend to use certain stones that are hard enough to provide a good, smooth surface for detailed etching. Stones such as: carnelian, bloodstone, chalcedony, and agates were most common during the 1700s to 1800s. One could get a clear, crisp etching image and text, just as with using metal seals, however the hard stone seal had an added bonus of the coloring of a beautiful stone to enhance the seal itself.
3. Gem Stone seals
The use of certain semi-precious and even precious gem stones is less common than hard stones - no doubt because of their cost - and the most common gem stones used for intaglio seals are of the quartz family: amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, etc. While one can get a crisp line on gem stone seals, there is often slight feathering on some lines, which no doubt appear because if one were to polish certain areas on a gem stone seal the actual hand-engraved lines would be diminished. At Seal & Scribe, we rather like the slight feathering on a gem stone seal because it serves as a reminder of the painstaking skills required to carve on to a gem stone, and is another aspect of the provenance of the stone. On rare occasion one may come across an intaglio seal carved into mother of pearl, but they are uncommon because mother of pearl is rather fragile. And on even rarer occasion a carved sapphire seal comes to light, but these are quite rare and were usually reserved for royalty and/or papal seals.
4. Glass seals
Last but by no means least, we have glass seals, which were produced often not as one-of-a-kinds (like a family crest might be), but rather for the masses and as such, a scribe might purchase a set of glass seals so that he could offer his customers the use of a seal to secure their correspondence, just like the well-heeled gentry of the time period. These glass seals were developed and perfected by James Tassie (1735–1799), a Scottish gem engraver who eventually began perfecting the modeling of small gem-like intaglio seals from paste glass. Many Tassie seals have cheeky, whimsical mottoes that go with the image on the seal, and there are also Tassie seals that are laden with beautiful imagery and deeply sentimental mottoes. Lastly, some glass seals carry a rebus - a combination of pictures and words/letters that, when put together, form a message. Victorians loved the rebus as a message device because they were keen on 'hidden meanings' as being overt when conveying one's feelings was seen to be inappropriate and discretion was of the utmost importance.
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"I found Seal and Scribe on Instagram in early 2017. Besides being beautiful pieces of history, the necklaces and rings were so special in that they all had a meaning and you could find one that pertained to you, making it so personal. I found all of the pieces gorgeous and followed along on Instagram waiting for one that spoke to me.
That happened in May, 2017. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I’m no stranger to scary medical situations as I also had congenital heart disease as a teen that required surgery. This time, the stakes were higher - I had a husband and three young children. I had to put on my brave face and assure them that I was not afraid. There was a seal pendant featuring a lion with a French saying - "Le Plus Fort Peut S'Effrayer d'un Rien" - that translated to "The Strongest Can Be Frightened of Nothing". I had to have it. I decided I’d get through the surgery first and then order it. When I got home from the hospital, the pendant had been purchased by someone else.
It was hard to be upset in light of the fact that I just survived brain surgery, but still, I really wanted it and felt like it was 'meant for me’. When the pathology came back that the tumor was cancer and I was staring radiation and a year of chemo in the face, I contacted Shari to see if whomever bought it might be convinced to sell it and she told me that she had an idea...Because it was such a wonderful seal, she had made a mold of it, thinking that at some point she would try to create a solid gold version. She ended up casting me a solid gold pendant of the lion seal from a mold of the original! Voila!
I’ve worn it for chemotherapy, doctor visits, scans, blood work, and radiation. It was always there, reminding me that I’m strong and brave. This piece is by far my favorite piece of jewelry besides my wedding ring. It hasn’t left my neck except for cleaning, and I love telling people the meaning behind it. I feel that it is an heirloom that I can pass to my daughter when she needs to be brave someday. I’m so grateful that Shari had this wonderful idea and that a piece I lamented over still found a way to be mine. Thank you!!!"
~Angie Edminster~
Welcome to the world of Seal & Scribe! We are a line of fine jewelry that is centered at the intersection of antique intaglio seals and precious adornment. Not sure what intaglio seals are? You've come to the right place!
Intaglio seals have been around since at least Egyptian times, and became extremely popular in the 1700's and 1800's. Ultimately, an intaglio seal is a 'stamp' of sorts that is used to secure all types of hand-written communication. The letter is either scrolled up - as in ancient Egyptian and Roman times - and hot wax is melted on the edge of the scroll or paper, to secure it from prying eyes. The stamp was used to denote from whom, or from where the communication was coming from. Stamps are written backwards on the seal, so that when they are stamped into the hot wax, the imprint remaining is written forwards and can be read by the recipient. So, for example, if the Emperor of Rome wanted to communicate with someone, he would have his own seal with his emblem or monogram (also known as a cipher) on it, so that anyone who handled the document would know that this was a very important piece of communication from the Emperor himself.
Seals were quite popular in Georgian and Victorian times, when the art of handwritten correspondence was at its best and most prevalent. The Georgian Era (1714 - 1837) is a period of British history spanning the reigns of the first four Hanoverian kings of Britain, all of whom were named George; whilst the Victorian era (1837 - 1901) denotes the reign of Queen Victoria. During these two eras, communication between and among the royal and higher classes became more common, and indeed even among the middle and lower classes who could read, letters of communication became more commonplace. As a result, seals were in high use during this time, and most often were created to be used either as a desk seal - a larger seal that literally sat upon one's desk to be used only at home - or set within fobs that were hung as ballast on the other end of pocket watches, which were quite fashionable in Georgian and Victorian life. Some desk and fob seals were set in luxurious high carat gold, silver and sometimes encrusted with a myriad of semiprecious gemstones, whilst the middle and lower classes had fobs set in 'pot metal', which was just simple non-precious base metals that sometimes were dipped in copper or brass to make them look more fancy and appealing.
In addition to owning one's own seal, there were many who were too poor to own such luxuries even in base metal fobs, as well as those who were illiterate and could not read nor write, but who might like to correspond with loved ones far away. In such cases, these people would go to their local scribe, to whom they would dictate their letter, and the scribe would write it out for them. Then they would select a seal to use to affix the envelope as the scribe would often have a selection of seals that their clients could choose from. These types of seals usually carried cheeky, sage, or sentimental messages as an added bonus message from the sender.