Seal Detail

A gold and carnelian armorial desk seal, English, circa 1830-1840, the gold mount richly cast with plumes above the deeply-cut acanthus cushion within a border of oak leaves in acorns, the rounded rectangular carnelian matrix engraved with a coat of arms incorporating crest, shield and motto reading:

AQUILA NON CAPIT MUSCAS 

The quarterly arms of those of Buller of Downes in Devon: 

1. Buller
2. Beauchamp
3. Trethurff of Cornwall
4. Courtenay quartering Redvers, Earls of Devon
5. Trelawaney 
6. Gould

The principal seat at Downes came to the family by the marriage, before the 15th century, of James Buller MP for Morval and Shillingham (descended from Ralph Buller of Word in Somerset) to his first wife, Elizabeth, co-heir of William Gould of Downes.

All the quarterings refer to marriages with heiresses before the early 18th century (the Trelawaney marriage in 1716). The most likely owner of the seal is James Wentworth Buller of Downes, DCL, GP, and MP for Exeter 1830-5 1867-1875. He married in 1831 the niece of the 12th Duke of Norfolk and died in 1865. He was succeeded by his son, James Howard Buller of Downes, who died unmarried in 1874, being succeeded himself by his next brother, General Sir Redvers Henry Buller, GCB, GCMG, VC, PC, who served in many postings in the Empire and died in 1908 

Seal Specification

Height:  22mm

Diameter of matrix:  21mm x 24mm

Weight:  35g