A Gold-Mounted Hardstone English Desk Seal, Circa 1876

Seal Detail

A gold-mounted hardstone desk seal, Englsih, circa 1876, the handle of unusual flat-topped fluted baluster form, the stem nipped in, banded and scrolled gold collar and lobed cushion, the rectangular carnelian matrix engraved with a coat of arms comprising shield, two crests, mantling and two mottos, reading:

NIL CONSCRIRE SIBI  (for Sibthorp) and 

VESTIGIA NULLA RETRORSUM (for Coningsby)

The arms re quarterly: Sibthorp, Browne, Ellison and Coningsby, impaling Sutton and Nelthorpe, below the crests of Sibthorp and Coningsby.

The seal was made for Coningsby Charles Sibthorp (1846-1932) of Canwick Hall and Sudbroke Holme, co. Lincoln, M.A, J.P.  He married in 1876, Mary Georgiana, eldest daughter of the Revd. Robert Sutton and Charlotte his wife, sister and heir of Sir John Nelthorpe, 8th bart. of Scawby, co. Lincoln.  She died in 1902.  As there were no children of the marriage the estate was divided between Mr Sidthorp'e three nieces.

The Sidthorps were entitled to a large number of quarterings not all of which were used.  In this particular case, Coningsby Charles has omitted the Waldo arms which usually appear and preferred, the eponymous Coningsby arms derived from his ancestor Thomas Coningsby of Potteralls, Herts., "a zealous adherent of Charles 1, for whom he was imprisoned in the Tower by Cromwell". Thomas's daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Williams of Glan-y-gore, Isle of Anglesey, a descendant of the royal Welsh tribes.  Their daughter Catherine married Humphrey Browne and his daughter and co-heiress Mary (whose arms also appear her) married in 1702, John Sidthorp, M.P. for Lincoln.  John Sibthorp's great-grandson Humphry married in 1777, Susannah, daughter of Richard Ellison (whose arms also appear), through whom Sudbrooke Holme came into the Sidthorp family.

Seal Specification

Height 92mm

Diameter of matrix  17mmx20mm 

Weight 65g