RARE WAX SEAL SIGNET SAMPLE in WOODEN CASE - LATE 18th to EARLY 19th C For Sale

For sale is a unique early wax letter seal or signet ring sample featuring a family crest. This piece was most likely created for a customer and sent to them for approval. It comes in a very nice screw top fine wooden case with nice turnings on the lid. The seal features a Lion holding a branch and a serpent. There is an age crack in the center of the seal. The case measures 1 3/4\" in diameter. A fine late 18th C to Early 19th C item.In English heraldry the Lion & Serpent mean:

The lion has always held a high place in heraldry as the emblem of deathless courage, and, hence, that of a valiant warrior.

It is said to be a lively image of a good soldier, who must be ‘valiant in courage, strong of body, politic in council and a foe to fear’.

Through the somewhat dubious legend of their compassion, lions also came to symbolize Christ. As one medieval author asserted ‘they prey on men rather than women, and they do not kill children except when they are very hungry’.

The lion, with such repute of its noble nature and having the position and title of king of the beasts, is naturally one of the most common heraldic symbols on the continent of Europe.

In ancient times when animals were defined in by the position that they were in, the lion held the position of rampant. A walking cat was originally called a leopard, so the lions of England can probably be more accurately called leopards, but the popularity of the lion led to its acquiring many more positions, and thus the development of a terminology was necessary to describe them all.

In addition to all of the positions a lion is found in, it can be found crowned or collared with two tails or two heads.

and

The serpent is an emblem of wisdom and defiance in heraldry.

In Ireland, the serpent may be used as an emblem of St. Patrick, an association derived from the legend of St. Patrick clearing Ireland of snakes.

Serpents also represent knowledge. There is nothing to distinguish a serpent or a snake from any of the other names given to it in heraldry such as cobra, adder, or bis.

The serpent may be found in a variety of positions such as erect, gliding or fessways, or involved, meaning in a curly-queue.

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