Antique c1730 French Fruitwood Town Ink Stamp Seal

Seal Detail

A tactile fruitwood ink stamp made c1730 in Flanders, France, of cylindrical block form , the top well engraved by hand with a central fleur de Lys between two besants with a circumscription within a lined border reading:

ARMENTIERE EN FLANDRES

The town stamp for this small town of Armentiere,  a commune in the Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille. The motto of the town is "Pauvre mais fière" (Poor but proud).

The stamp is presented in excellent condition having acquired a good level of patina over the years and it is wonderful to see the rather naïve carving that has been carried out in order to provide depth in the centre section.

Seal Specification

Height 24mm

Diameter of matrix  47mm 

Weight 28g