Unusual French Revolutionary Town Seal VELLINE

Seal Detail

A fine example of a French early 19th century Revolutionary period wood and brass desk seal, the turned handle of inverted baluster form with tapering stem to a banded brass collar and integrated oval matrix, engraved with the central depiction of La Marianne standing with one hand resting on the fasces whilst holding the spear topped with a phrygian cap in her other hand.  Inscription above reading:

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE and a circumscription reading:

ADMI(N). MUNIPJ(sic). CANTON. DE. VEJJ(LL)INE. DEPT. DE. J(L)A. DORD(ogne).

It is interesting to note that the engraving includes the errors of the letter J instead of the letter L - this could simply be because the engraver could not spell properly and was incorrectly copying text or they had no L stamps!  In either case, it produces an interesting seal.    

Seal Specification

Height: 88mm

Diameter of matrix: 29mm 

Weight 58g