Seal Detail

The seal is formed as a webbed disc, with each point terminating in an oval matrix engraved with the initial one or two letters of the day of the week; with line borders. The seal is on a single chain, suggesting it was used as a fob.

A quotation from the memoirs of Arthur Grimwade, the celebrated silver expert, on a wartime visit to Woburn, suggests a possible use for these unusual seals: ‘We breakfasted as in the past when the butter came to the table with the day of the week stamped on each pat.’

Thomas Law of Norfolk Street, Sheffield, was born in 1717 and was received as Master Cutler in 1753 following apprenticeship with John Osborne. On 20 September 1773, he entered two marks for silver at the very recently opened Sheffield Assay Office, although the present mark was never registered. Law must have died before 6 July 1795, the date on which his will was proved, but the firm was carried on by his sons. In Sheffield, it was not necessary to change the registered sponsor’s mark if a firm carried on in business, merely to inform the Assay Office of the change of manager. In the Plate Book Entries of 1794–1800, there are a number of entries from the firm of Thomas Law listing the objects they produced that were to be tested and hallmarked, including ‘rims, blades, tea pots, candlesticks, cream jugs, toast racks, sugar tongs, etc.’ The double duty mark was used for nine months from 15 July 1797, and during that time the firm sent 48 seals to be assayed, included among seven different deliveries. Unfortunately the different types of seal are not listed, so one cannot be certain of the intended purpose of this seal.

This seal is featured as a double page item on page 160-161 in our book, Matrix

Provenance:

Lawrence of Crewkerne, 15 October 2009, lot 1941.

Seal Specification

Height:  45mm

Diameter of matrix:  12mm X 10mm

Weight:  16g