19th-century wax seal fob, circa 1820–1840, with a carnelian matrix engraved BEWARE above a snake in the grass. The reverse is heavily chased and sculpted, with small inset turquoise and onyx stones, and appears to be gold-cased rather than solid gold.
Short engraved mottoes were common in Georgian seals, often combining words with imagery to convey love, fidelity, warning, remembrance or private sentiment. Here the meaning is unusually direct: the snake in the grass was a long-standing emblem of hidden danger, deceit and treachery, making BEWARE less a sentimental motto than a warning.
Wax seal fobs were used to stamp a personal emblem or motto into warm sealing wax on letters and documents.
The carnelian shows a small naturally pale area at the upper left, consistent with variation within the chalcedony.
Condition: Good antique condition with age-related wear. The mount appears to be gold-cased / mixed metal, with areas of differing response under testing where there is wear to the metal. One turquoise stone is worn/ crazed. Please examine the photographs as they form part of the description.
Supplied on a 45cm 14ct gold-cased chain.
The fob measures 15mm x 17mm x 26mm
19th-century wax seal fob, circa 1820–1840, with a carnelian matrix engraved BEWARE above a snake in the grass. The reverse is heavily chased and sculpted, with small inset turquoise and onyx stones, and appears to be gold-cased rather than solid gold.
Short engraved mottoes were common in Georgian seals, often combining words with imagery to convey love, fidelity, warning, remembrance or private sentiment. Here the meaning is unusually direct: the snake in the grass was a long-standing emblem of hidden danger, deceit and treachery, making BEWARE less a sentimental motto than a warning.
Wax seal fobs were used to stamp a personal emblem or motto into warm sealing wax on letters and documents.
The carnelian shows a small naturally pale area at the upper left, consistent with variation within the chalcedony.
Condition: Good antique condition with age-related wear. The mount appears to be gold-cased / mixed metal, with areas of differing response under testing where there is wear to the metal. One turquoise stone is worn/ crazed. Please examine the photographs as they form part of the description.
Supplied on a 45cm 14ct gold-cased chain.
The fob measures 15mm x 17mm x 26mm
