18thC Steel & Silver Religious Desk Seal

Seal Detail

An intriguing and highly attractive desk seal, the steel handle of octagonal tapering form with squared spigot end, to a fluted mount and oval silver matrix, engraved with the seated figures of Our Lady holding Child in one arm and sceptre in the other, the Child holding a three-balled device in one hand.  The figures are flanked by the initials: MK and stand on a ball with leaping dog within, the whole image encircled by their Glory.

A fascinating seal, with no known identification as to its origin nor purpose, except that the initials mark it out as a personal seal, presumably with strong religious intentions, although the dog (cat?) is also somewhat mystifying!

Seal Specification

Height 64mm

Diameter of matrix 20mmx24mm

Weight 55g