19th Century Seal Holder with Five Trays and 27 Double-Sided Seals

This 19th-century wax seal wheel is not only practical, but also an impressive little artwork to exhibit on one’s desk!

In the early 19th Century, letters were often sealed with hot wax. Most avid letter writers would have their personal seal, for instance bearing their initials. This brass etui folds out into five trays, which originally housed 50 double-sided seals, of which 27 are still present. The cap has been fitted with a screw mechanism in which originally, the seal you want to use can be secured and used. This mechanism is currently no longer functioning.

The seals are double sided and each depict an image with an accompanying motto, which I believe to read:

• An arrow: ‘A mon but’ / A star: ‘Veille sur ce que l’aime’.
• A leaf: ‘Je ne change qu’en mourant’ / A reed stem: ‘Le trop m’accabre’.
• A thundercloud: ‘Je brave tout’ / A leaf that falls in a pond: ‘Je romps et ne poir pas’.
• A tortoise: ‘Doucement mais sûre’ / A leafless tree: ‘J’attends un beau jour’.
• A cupid playing with a ball: ‘Je bouleverse’ / Two clasped hands: ‘Pour toujours’.
• A flower in the sun: ‘Je languis loin de toi’ / Cupid hacking a rock: ‘Avec le temps’.
• A harp: ‘A qui touche je reponds’ / Cupid leaning on an anchor: ‘Sans toi je meurs’.
• A bird flying from its cage: ‘Qui me neglige me perd’ / An open folding knife: ‘Je pars pour revenir’.
• A heart: ‘A Vous’ / Two birds: ‘Guerre à l’inconstance’.
• A symbol of time: ‘Le temps nous unira’ / A dog resting near a grave: ‘Fidele jusqu’au tombeau’.
• A heart: ‘Un seul me suffit’ / A swallow: ‘Le froid me chasse’.
• An envelope: ‘Ditte Oui’ / Cupid walking a dog: ‘La fidelite me guide’.
• Two birds holding a knotted rope: ‘Plus long plus serre’ / A butterfly on a flower: ‘J’attends’.
• A pansy flower: ‘Toi seule la fixe’ / A heart shaped lock: ‘Vous en avez la clef’.
• A star: ‘Elle m’a bien conduit’ / A ship in stormy waters: ‘Telle est la vie’.
• A needle and thread: ‘Je reunis je raccommode’ / Cupid collecting hearts in a basket: ‘Je cherche le plus fidele’.
• A pansy flower: ‘(pense) a moi quand je serai plus’  / A globe: ‘Le monde est ma patrie’.
• An owl: ‘Sois sage comme lui’ / A running dog carrying a letter: ‘Reviens vite’.
• A butterfly on a rose: ‘Je me fixe’ / A bouquet of flowers: ‘A present et toujours’.
• An anchor: ‘Je console’ / A rising sun: ‘Je reviendrai’.
• A letter: ‘elle a douce les peines de l’abbsence’ / a bird perched on a pole. 
• A child pointing to a star: ‘Si je te peeds je suis perdu’ / a compass: ‘Je te tousez si tu negeance’.
• A quill: ‘La langue des absence’ / A tree: ‘a l’epreuvr du temps’.
• Two clasped hands: ‘Amitie jusqu’à eternity’ / A hammer: ‘Si je frappe je fixe’. 
• A dog: ‘Fidèle et heurement’ / A quill: ‘Toujours sincère’. 
• A dapper man: ‘Toujours gai’ / A bird holding a letter: ‘repondrez vite’.
• The symbol of time: ‘Passois le gaiement’ / a broken arrow. 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Size: 108 x 26 x 13 mm: each seal measures 

Weight: 133 grams

Age: Early 19th Century, circa 1840s. 

Condition: In antique condition with signs of wear and use. The front of the etui has come loose: it will need a new screw to secure it properly. Originally, the seal holder came with a scew mechanism that held the seal in place, but this is missing. Therefore you will have to use the seals with your hands or a different seal holder. 
The seals are in good condition but some are more difficult to read than others, and some have signs of use or oxidation marks. 

Please note that this shop is based in the EU. Although antiques are exempt from taxes in most countries, buyers from outside the EU might be subject to import duties.