{"product_id":"18th-century-english","title":"THE SEAL OF 1ST EARL OF LEICESTER \u0026 SIR EVERARD FAWKENER - JOINT POSTMASTERS-GENERAL","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeal Detail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wood and silver desk seal, maker's mark WC in a double punch, probably London, circa 1745, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe 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\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe arms are those of \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Coke\u003c\/strong\u003e (1697-1759), 1st Earl of Leicester, and \u003cstrong\u003eSir Everard Fawkener\u003c\/strong\u003e (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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoke, 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\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSir 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor more detailed information please see pgs 174-175 of our \u003cem\u003eMATRIX\u003c\/em\u003e book. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSeal Specification\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight:  100mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiameter of matrix:  22mm X 24mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeight:  78g \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sigillum Seals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57509784191354,"sku":null,"price":1750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0755\/3626\/9597\/files\/450.jpg?v=1793618247","url":"https:\/\/sigillumseals.co.uk\/products\/18th-century-english","provider":"Sigillum Seals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}