Accession number
MG 084
Date made
17th century AD; 18th century AD (side mounts)
Materials
Mineral; Beryl; Emerald; Metal; Gold; Corundum; Ruby; Diamond
Collection
Dimensions (cm)
Archival information
File of material relating to a personal seal, which possibly belonged to King Charles I. Includes photocopy of information card with photocopy of image of object (date unspecified). Notes that object dates from the first half of the seventeenth century but that the side mounts could be eighteenth-century; Hunt Museum object comment sheet (27 June 1996) containing comments made about object by Hugh Tait, formerly of the British Museum. Dates the setting to the mid-seventeenth century; Hunt Museum object comment sheet (25 April 1996) containing comments made about object by John Cherry, British Museum. Makes descriptive remarks about the seal; photocopy of extract from '50 Treasures from the Hunt Collection' (Limerick: Hunt Museum Executive, 1993) by Patrick Doran which describes the seal; typescript copy of Dorans published description of the seal; extract from exhibition catalogue in German for the Schmuckmuseum, Pforzheim, (c. 1972) which comprises image and description of seal; letter, and photocopy of same (6 March 1957), from Robin Mackworth-Young, Deputy Librarian, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, to Francis Watson, Deputy Keeper of the Queens works of arts, The Wallace Collection, Manchester square, London, in response to letter of 4 March 1957. Writer transcribes comments made about present object by Sir Owen Moorehead: that no one can assert with confidence that the seal belonged to either King Charles I or King Charles II. There is no object like it among collections at Windsor Castle. Moorehead would favour Charles I as owner on account of the shape of the crown depicted on object as well as the fact that inscription reads 'CR' without qualification; letter (2 May 1957) from Watson to John Hunt, Senior, 71 Merrion Square, Dublin (note at top of letter states, 'Sent in error to Merrion Square'). Encloses copy of letter he has received from Hilary Jenkinson, The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, London (date unspecified) in relation to the seal. Jenkinson writes that he would differ from Moorehead and attribute object to Charles II but does ask if the crown depicted gives any evidence. Also discusses the functions of different types of seals and wonders how much administrative significance should be attached to a privy signet. Writes that the difficulty is to find seal impressions in sufficient numbers to justify general conclusions about them; letter (22 July 1957) from Watson to John Hunt, Senior, Drumleck house, Baily, county Dublin. Writes that he contacted a friend, Wilfred Hemp, an authority on seals, in relation to present object and he has replied that he accepts it as being of Charles I on account of the form of the crown. Refers to Boutells Heraldry, page 286, as support for his theory; letter (25 June 1959) from Claude Blair, Honorary Editor of the 'Journal of the Arms and Armour Society,' Stepping stone, Woodlands Road, Little Brookham, Leatherhead, Surrey, to John Hunt, Senior. Writes that Hunts theory that the seal belonged to one of the Pretenders is interesting. If this is correct, it can only belong to the young Pretender who became King Charles III in 1766. Questions if the seal could be as late as this; further letter (30 June 1959) from Blair to Hunt in which he writes of locating a number of letters in the British Museum written by Charles Edward Stuart, none of which has a seal impression similar to present object. Also, that he believes seal is earlier than this period. Writes, 'Another similar one occurs for example on Cardinal Bainbridge's letters in the British Museum (Med. Cat. P. 249, Fig. 76)'; a third letter (9 July 1959) from Blair to Hunt. Writes that he has no further news about the seal. Also writes about another matter. Recalls that about three years ago, Hunt lent him a photograph of a lead cistern made from the same mould as the Hampton Court frieze. Article about to be published in 'The Connoisseur' and will include copy of this photograph. Writes that Hunt may be interested to know that there is fairly sound circumstantial evidence for attributing the cistern to Giovanni da Maiano, the Florentine artist who worked for King Henry VIII between 1527 and some date after 1542. Summarises the evidence for the da Maiano attribution; letter (13 November 1959) from Blair, Victoria and Albert Museum, to John Hunt, Senior. Writes that among the Finch manuscripts in the Public Record Office is a holograph from Charles II to the 1st Earl of Nottingham dated 8 August 1675. Seal used to close the note is a signet with interlaced initials 'CR' with a crown above. Not similar to present object but Blair mentions it as evidence that 'C.R. crowned' was sometimes used personally by the king. Also mentions that his article which mentions Hunts lead cistern is to be published in the December issue of 'The Connoisseur.'
Category
Copyright Attribution
Personal seal of Charles I | Mineral,Beryl,Emerald, Metal,Gold, Mineral,Corundum,Ruby, Mineral,Diamond | 17th century AD; 18th century AD (side mounts) | The Hunt Collection | PD
