Seal thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Seal

1600-50 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The seal was used to make an impression of Sir John Leman's coat of arms in wax to close an envelope or letter, or authenticate a signature.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cast and engraved silver (confirmed sterling standard).
Brief description
A silver seal engraved with the arms of Sir John Leman; three dolphins embowed.
Physical description
A silver seal engraved with the arms of Sir John Leman; three dolphins embowed.
Dimensions
  • Approx. length: 6cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Engraved with the arms of Sir John Leman (Two dolphins embowed above and one below a stripe, all within a shield shape.)
  • No marks
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: By descent to the Rev. George Orgill Leman, Brampton Hall, 1847. R. G. Kahn Esq., 1950s. S. J. Phillips, Nov, 1998.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The seal was used to make an impression of Sir John Leman's coat of arms in wax to close an envelope or letter, or authenticate a signature.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Suckling, Alfred; The History and Antiquities of the County of Suffolk, London, 1846, vol. II, pp. 183-5.
  • Weinstein, Rosemary. 'The Making of a Lord Mayor, Sir John Leman (1544-1632): the integration of a stranger family'. Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of London, Vol. XXIV, No. 4, 1986; pp.316-24
Other numbers
  • Misc 202 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1999.66 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • SG 311 - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.24-2008

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Record createdJune 19, 2008
Record URL
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