posted 02-17-2006 10:20 PM            

Hi, I have an interesting silver wax seal that was found in Maine years ago. The base is etched with a crown towards the top, the initials W C at the bottom,and there are a number of ferriers tools etched in the center of the base. The base is an oval, about the size of an oblong quarter. The top has two sides that slope at about a 45 degree angle where the sides meet near the apex. Atop these sloping sides is a ring so that it can be attached to a fob or chain. The sides are filligreed with tight loops of silver wire. My guess is that it belonged to the ferrier to the crown. Any ideas? Has anyone seen such an item? Replies welcome.

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Daddy-o

posted 02-20-2006 05:45 PM            

I used to do some horse-shoeing, and in addition to collecting silver, I also sometimes collect items related to the farrier's trade (The real bonus is when I can find silver objects depicting horseshoes, or blacksmiths at work, etc.!).

posted 02-20-2006 10:58 PM            

We do have a how-to for posting photos, the link is http://www.smpub.com/ubb/FAQ/HowToPostPhotos.htm
You'll have to upload the pictures onto a web server to post them here (you should have one from your internet provider or you can use a free site like photobucket.com).

posted 02-22-2006 09:58 PM            

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Daddy-o

posted 02-23-2006 03:43 PM            

My observation about the apparent crudeness of the engraving compared to the elegance of the seal itself is that it does not make sense to me through my general experience with seeing old silver that if someone had the resources to purchase such a fine seal that they would not have had it engraved by a trained engraver. There was no shortage of highly skilled engravers at the time and few engravers of today can even come close to the free-hand skill virtually all of the engravers of the past couple of centuries have shown. My thought is that a person who thought highly enough of themselves to have an elegant wax seal made for themselves would have had it engraved by a trained hand which would have cost very little extra at the time. I would not easily go along with the thought that a silver smith of the era with the skill to make such an elegant design would have attepted to engrave it if he had minimal engraving skills. Silver smiths have always had justifiable pride in their work from start to finish.

Why this apparent mismatch is the case is a bit of a mystery to me, but to cover the waterfront and use the scientific deduction process, I can think of a range of five possibilities. While any are possible, my initial impression is that my first two may be somewhat less likely than my last three though I am very open to arguments in the other direction since I don't have the seal in hand to examine.

posted 02-24-2006 04:57 PM            

As for the difference in quality in the work: The initials are done well and when viewing the seal it is clear that the tools and crown are not up to the same standard. My belief, and I am surely biased, is that it is all legit, though. A physical exam of the seal would, I believe, convince most that this is not an attempt to deceive.

Have not had any luck identifying the crown. It almost looks like the maltese cross is implied at the center of the crown - but not distinct.??? There is considerable wear along the ends of the channel that the ring slides through. A soft rounding of the hole from the bail-like ring sliding and wearing along it's entrance point with the spherical "knob" that it slides through.

I have seen filligree work that is reminiscent of the work on the seal on a pair of silver tongs that, I believe, were of chinese origin. It was the only other example of such work that I have experienced. But, silver has only recently sparked my interest. Good day.

posted 02-25-2006 12:27 PM            

Here goes another view..

posted 02-25-2006 06:24 PM            

Although whoever made the seal probably didn't also engrave it, I am quite sure that the monogram and other devices were engraved when the seal was new. The styles of the seal and the engraving are both appropriate for this time frame. I seriously doubt that any alterations or marriages have taken place.

posted 02-25-2006 10:29 PM            

After pondering and reviewing Yours,and Kimo's comments re. my posts I have developed a theory: That the engraved section is not the same quality as the rest of it is clear. I believe that the piece is "right". The "W.C." is of higher quality than the tools and crown. My theory: the engraver was more accustomed to doing lettering, and therefore, the W.C. has a more "polished" look. The crown and the farrier's tools would not have been patterns or subjects that anyone would have been practiced in. How often would the busiest of engravers have to engrave horshoe's, farrier's tools, and crowns? They were, perhaps, a once in a lifetime commission for the engraver. The freehand "sketchy" appearance could be the result of his lack of familiarity with the tools and crown designs.

This brings up a new question: Did engravers of the period use guides, stencils, or some type of pattern to guide their hand? Or, was it done strictly freehand? I've had engraving done on plaques and trophy's in past years. From what I saw while visiting the engravers shop, it seems that the "art" of engraving has been reduced to a trade similar to the "art" of key making. A device similar in design to Thomas Jefferson's handwriting - duplicating machine,or, a draftsmen enlarger/reducer tool, is used. The engraver simply runs an arm over a "die" of a letter or pattern and the design is transcribed to the trophy or plaque with another "extended" arm that makes the cut with a grinder mounted on it. Of course there are many fine engravers out there who would not fit into my stereotype - I mean no disrespect, I have great respect for artists and craftsmen. Most engraving is done mechanically today, though. What devices, if any, were used in the past???