Georgian Laurel Intaglio Seal Fob
An unusual miniature Georgian seal fob dating from the early 19th century, circa 1910. The gold body is intricately carved, the elaborate foliate scroll-work is (almost certainly deliberately) reminiscent of a classical dolphin, while the white chalcedony base is carved with an English heraldic crest I've never seen before: a laurel tree.
The Georgian Regency era, officially 1811-1820, arguably saw the pinnacle of letter writing. The educated upper classes would have been able to write their own letters, and indeed seal them closed with their own personal intaglio like this one (perhaps a family crest or monogram, or, if titled, their own heraldic shield), but anyone else who wanted to correspond via letter was unlikely to have learned to read and write, so would have employed the services of their local scribe. For a small fee, the scribe would write down a dictated letter, then offer the sender a choice of seals by which to secure the envelope. The seals of a scribe would, then, have to convey a broad selection of messages - some serious, some jovial, some thoroughly tongue in cheek.
Era: Georgian Regency, circa 1810
Size: 20.1mm by 11.2mm
Stone: Glass Tassie Seal
Marks: None, tested as 9ct gold
Condition: Great antique condition; light wear consistent with age
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[Last updated: 28th February 2026]
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Condition
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