Details

LOT 0285

English Medieval Heraldic Silver Chessman Type Seal Matrix Chained Pair with the Arms of Beaubois and Estcourt

EARLY-MID 15TH CENTURY A.D.

14 1/2 in. (52.7 grams, 37 cm long).

A group of two silver heraldic seal matrices connected by a substantial silver chain of later date with a rivetted shackle at each end passing through the pierced finials; Seal A: chessman-type with pierced trefoil finial, four small points close to the edge for alignment of the design; pounced field with reserved florid panel and central heater shield flanked by fronds; heraldic design of three birds' heads in profile and horizontal pounced bar blazoned 'Sable a fess between three eagles' heads erased or', the arms of the Beaubois family; raised outer rim with running vine-scroll detailing with the letters S - R - D - G at the cardinal points; Seal B: chessman-type with pierced knop finial above a pierced lozenge on a bulb with stepped profile; small 'x' by the edge for alignment of the design; heater shield surmounted by a profile eagle's head with beak open, pinions extending around the shoulders of the shield developing to an encircling feathered band with frond below the base; heraldic device of three stars above a dagged border and ermine below 'Ermine, on a chief indented gules three estoiles or'; the arms of the Estcourt family, blackletter legend to the border 'sigillum ibith escourt cleri[c]i' with contraction line above the 'b' letter {seal of [?] Es(t)court, cleric).

Provenance

The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s.
Ex old English jewellery collection.
A Georgian period fob chain assemblage.
Matrix Collection catalogue nos.5509 & 5510.
Many of the seals within the collection were published in a book titled 'The Matrix Collection', by David Morris in 2012.

Accompanied by copies of illustrated collection notes for both seals.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11654-198734.

Footnotes

This pair of seals most likely became united following the mid-15th century (full date not known) marriage of John de la Estcourt and Alice Beaubois; their only son, also John, died in 1474 A.D.