Seal Detail

A wood and silver desk seal, maker's mark WC in a double punch, probably London, circa 1745, the lignum vitae handle of flat-topped pommel form with spool stem turned at top and base, banded cylindrical silver collar, the oval matrix engraved with jugate coats of arms within mantling, a mask and rose garlands

The arms are those of Thomas Coke (1697-1759), 1st Earl of Leicester, and Sir Everard Fawkener (1684-1758) as joint Postmasters-General, an appointment made on 28 May 1745 and which lasted until 1758, the year of Sir Everard's death.  Coke had previously served from 1733 and continued after 1758 until his own death the following year. 

Coke, a wealthy Norfolk landowner, became a noted patron of the arts after taking the Grand Tour. On his return he engaged William Kent to work on Holkham Hall, the house he wished to build to contain the collections he had bought abroad. Work did not proceed as quickly as he would have wished as Coke was badly affected by the bursting of the South Sea Bubble. He had been created Earl of Leicester (fifth creation) in 1744, the year preceding this appointment. The title died with him as his only son had died before but was finally to be resurrected by his great-nephew, the celebrated agriculturist, "Mr Coke of Holkham".

Sir Everard Fawkener, a diplomat and secretary to the Duke of Cumberland, had formerly acted as British ambassador to the Porte at a time of increasing importance of trade with the Levant. Also a patron of the arts, he was noted as a backer of the Chelsea porcelain factory as well as for his correspondence with Voltaire.

For more detailed information please see pgs 174-175 of our MATRIX book. 

Seal Specification

Height:  100mm

Diameter of matrix:  22mm X 24mm

Weight:  78g