18thC Double Sided Brass MARTINEZ DE CARCAR (Philippines) Armorial Pocket Wax Seal

Seal Detail

This is an unusual but fascinating example of, what is believed to be, an 18th century double-sided brass matrix seal, one side engraved, somewhat crudely with a name and the other with an armorial. The seal is made of brass and roughly oval in shape and the original owner has engraved his name: MARTINEZ DE CARCAR on the reverse and the obverse  nicely engraved with  a complicated armorial  under a somewhat stylised coronet surrounded with wonderful decoration.  The armorial has yet to be researched but it is believed that the name MARTINEZ on the reverse forms part of the family story.  The condition is very good in general save for a degree of what appears to be solder on the matrix which has been incorporated into the armorial.  Because the solder is beneath the armorial engraving, presumably it was put on to repair the basic metal disc before it was then engraved. 

Seal Specification

Height: 5mm

Diameter of matrix:  32mmx40mm 

Weight 34g