Seal Detail

A hardstone and gold desk seal, Anglo-Indian, circa 1845, the bloodstone handle of faceted and banded inverted baluster form, cut-cornered rectangular section, fluted gold calyx collar above the lobed and fluted cushion, the rounded rectangular carnelian matrix engraved with an inscription in Arabic calligraphy:

Alexander Wallace 1260 (1844-5) 

This seal merits more research as the name is relatively common and there are a number of Alexander or A.Wallaces with Indian associations of this date but it might be possible to narrow the date. The Muslim year used, AH1260, corresponds to the Christian year 1844-5. Our research thinks that this is Indian rather than the script which is Persian because it is unlikely that Wallace served under the Mughals since they used the regnal year.

Provenance: Anonymous vendor, sale, Mellors & Kirk, 2nd December 1999, lot 308

Seal Specification

Height:  67mm

Collar 9mm

Diameter of matrix:  15mm x 20mm

Weight:  29g