Seal Detail

An early 20th century silver and enamel desk seal, probably of Austrian origin. The handle of mushroom top form made of deep blue enamel, the stem set with three high-relief owl figurines, the eyes embellished with tiger eye stones, to a circular silver collar of columnar form struck with three marks including maker's mark G.A.S for George Scheid and another mark with minerva head and "2 A" for 800 quality silver and a third mark too rubbed to be identified. The former two marks are replicated on the rim of the circular matrix engraved with a cypher of the owner. 

This is a beautiful, early 20th century seal made by such a celebrated silversmith;  Georg Adam Scheid was a gold and silversmith with premises on the Gumpendorferstraße from 1882-1903. He was made Knight of the Order of Franz Joseph and worked in silver and enamels. He participated in the Jubilee exhibition of 1889 as well as the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle.  This seal is a very good example of his work and is collectable especially given the nature of the owl figurines, deep lustre of the enamel and number of strike marks. 

Seal Specification

Height:  75mm

Diameter of matrix:  24mm 

Weight:  81g