17th - 18th century Bronze Stamp Seal pendant with inscribed script - 22 mm (No reserve price)
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
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Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Bronze stamp-seal pendant with an inscribed design dating to the 17th–18th century, 22 mm tall, in good condition, acquired in 2026 from a private collection via a Dutch auction house.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Post-Medieval Bronze Stamp Seal Pendant with Engraved Design
Culture / Period: Post-Medieval
Date / Period: 17th - 18th century
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 22 mm
Condition: Good condition
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 937
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the stamp seal pendant with inscribed design from R.N. in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, R.N. of Rotterdam, did not provide a date for when the object entered his collection.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously formed part of a private collection in the Netherlands. The date and duration of this earlier ownership were not provided and remain unknown.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This small bronze stamp seal consists of a circular engraved matrix combined with an openwork handle and integral suspension loop, allowing it to be conveniently carried or worn. The matrix displays a strongly stylised engraved composition incorporating curved and angular elements resembling calligraphic characters or symbols. An exact reading has not been established, and the cultural or linguistic attribution of the engraved design therefore remains uncertain.
Personal seal matrices were practical instruments used to impress an individual mark into wax or another suitable sealing material. Depending on their owner and context, they could carry names, initials, inscriptions, symbols or decorative devices. Their compact construction and suspension loops made them particularly suitable as portable personal objects for merchants, officials and other individuals involved in correspondence or transactions.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europe was connected through extensive commercial and diplomatic networks with the Ottoman Empire, North Africa and the wider Mediterranean and Islamic worlds. Merchants, sailors, diplomats and travellers carried both commodities and personal possessions across these routes. The appearance of this seal's engraved design may suggest connections with such broader cultural traditions, although without a definitive reading of the matrix its precise origin should remain open.
Bronze seals were generally cast before the matrix was individually engraved, combining efficient metalworking with personalised craftsmanship. This compact seal therefore forms a tangible connection to personal identity, written communication and the movement of people and objects within the interconnected post-medieval world.
Post-Medieval Bronze Stamp Seal Pendant with Engraved Design
Culture / Period: Post-Medieval
Date / Period: 17th - 18th century
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 22 mm
Condition: Good condition
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 937
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the stamp seal pendant with inscribed design from R.N. in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, R.N. of Rotterdam, did not provide a date for when the object entered his collection.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously formed part of a private collection in the Netherlands. The date and duration of this earlier ownership were not provided and remain unknown.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This small bronze stamp seal consists of a circular engraved matrix combined with an openwork handle and integral suspension loop, allowing it to be conveniently carried or worn. The matrix displays a strongly stylised engraved composition incorporating curved and angular elements resembling calligraphic characters or symbols. An exact reading has not been established, and the cultural or linguistic attribution of the engraved design therefore remains uncertain.
Personal seal matrices were practical instruments used to impress an individual mark into wax or another suitable sealing material. Depending on their owner and context, they could carry names, initials, inscriptions, symbols or decorative devices. Their compact construction and suspension loops made them particularly suitable as portable personal objects for merchants, officials and other individuals involved in correspondence or transactions.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europe was connected through extensive commercial and diplomatic networks with the Ottoman Empire, North Africa and the wider Mediterranean and Islamic worlds. Merchants, sailors, diplomats and travellers carried both commodities and personal possessions across these routes. The appearance of this seal's engraved design may suggest connections with such broader cultural traditions, although without a definitive reading of the matrix its precise origin should remain open.
Bronze seals were generally cast before the matrix was individually engraved, combining efficient metalworking with personalised craftsmanship. This compact seal therefore forms a tangible connection to personal identity, written communication and the movement of people and objects within the interconnected post-medieval world.
Details
Culture
17th - 18th century
Century/timeframe
17th - 18th century
Name of object
Stamp Seal pendant with inscribed script
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
22 mm
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
