17th Century Sealing Wax Holder Reveals Hidden Story...
25th September 2024
What began as an intriguing find in a box of general bric-a-brac, turned into a highlight at Lawrences Autumn sale of silver and vertu.
This 17th-century gilt brass sealing wax holder, dated 1653 and marked with the name of its owner, Thomas Stanfall, carried a cryptic message suggesting a clever play on its maker’s name. "I was in Sheffield made and many can prove that I was not made by any man." This subtle wordplay is now believed to refer to Thomas Maden or Madin, a Sheffield cutler and patriarch of a notable family in the trade.
Other pieces of this rare type, including a few bearing similar inscriptions and dates from the Commonwealth period (1649-1660), can be found in collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum
Estimated at £300-500, the finely preserved 6-inch box stirred considerable interest ahead of the sale and sold for £6500 (inc. BP).
