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Impression of the Garter Seal of King Charles I
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Medallion SM MP30, recto. ©Sir John Soane's Museum. Photo: Lewis Bush.
Impression of the Garter Seal of King Charles I
17th century
England
Lead; impressed
Inscription: MAGNVM:SIGILLVM:NOBILISS:ORDINIS:GARTERII
Inscription language: Latin
Inscription language: Latin
Museum number: MP30
Not on display
Curatorial note
A cicular seal-impression of the Great Seal of the Order of the Garter depicting St George slaying the dragon; inscription has swags between the words; carved outer border. There is an identical sealing in the British Museum Registration no: 1882,1028.8.
The central small hole at the top is not original was probably made in order to nail this item up on the wall in Soane's Monk's Parlour.
Elias Ashmole,The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1672, published 12 years after the Restoration of the monarchy records that a new version of the Garter seal was commissioned in 1638 when the previous one, made for James I, was deemed too small. This lead impression must therefore date from some time after 1638.
The central small hole at the top is not original was probably made in order to nail this item up on the wall in Soane's Monk's Parlour.
Elias Ashmole,The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1672, published 12 years after the Restoration of the monarchy records that a new version of the Garter seal was commissioned in 1638 when the previous one, made for James I, was deemed too small. This lead impression must therefore date from some time after 1638.
Provenance
Unknown; entered the collection of Sir John Soane at some time before his death in January 1837.
Literature
Elias Ashmole, The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1672, Section II, p.247, illustrated on plate titled p.247, image lettered III [volume available online via google books]
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