Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
The Orange Collection
The wax seal stamps are regrouped in various sections to easily explore the collection.
Black Gold Green Orange Masterpieces Silver/Metal Wax Cases White Wood
This rather large Georgian banded agate & silver desk seal was bought from England but may be German. It is an interesting item that stands out in the collection thanks to its beautiful orange color. The shield of the coat of arms is round, which means that this stamp belonged most probably to a noble woman who married a Knight (Since there is no crown). The stamp is likely of German origin, as indicated by the horns, a common feature in German heraldry.
The Prestige of Orange Agate Wax Seals. From the Ural to the Drawing Room.
Orange stones - particularly orange agate - were among the most visually striking materials used for the handles of wax seal stamps in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Agate was valued for its vibrant, banded translucency and natural variations in hue. This stone was a favorite among both European aristocracy and high-ranking officials. In addition to agate, other materials such as orange jasper, carnelian (a reddish-orange chalcedony), and possibly certain varieties of marble or calcite were occasionally fashioned into handles, though less commonly. The lapidary arts flourished in this period, and orange-toned stones, being both durable and luxurious, were highly sought after for objects that conveyed personal refinement, including wax seal stamps. The Imperial Lapidary Works of Russia, particularly under the Romanovs, were renowned for their mastery in working with hardstones, including agate, which was sourced from the Ural Mountains or imported through trade. Agate seals were prized across France, Austria, England, and Russia, typically commissioned by members of the nobility, diplomats, and wealthy collectors who favored the stone's symbolic connotation of stability, taste, and individuality.
A superb large agate and silver seal from the 19th century. The handle is made of orange-red banded agate in a baluster shape, and the silver matrix is engraved with an alliance coat of arms under a marquis crown. The gentleman's arms are described as azure with a gold chevron, accompanied in chief by two gold roses and in base by a hand supporting a gold falcon. These arms belong to the de Laage family, known for their involvement in state finance administration, with members holding positions such as advisor-secretary to the king, receiver of taxes, or farmer general. The family also includes clergymen and officers. Originally from Saintonge, the de Laage lineage traces back to Élie de Laage, a squire who lived around 1600 in the parish of Chadenac. In the 18th century, the family branched into several lines, including the now-extinct de Saint Germain and the de Meux branches. Théophile de Laage de Meux founded a distillery in 1856, producing De Laage Cognac, which earned many prizes for its high quality. He sold the distillery in 1885 to Aubouneau, who later sold it to Rémy Martin. While it’s unclear to whom this stamp originally belonged, the other coat of arms is that of a noble lady from the Bariller family, lords of Saz.
I acquired this wax seal stamp mainly for its handle. While I can’t identify the origin of the coat of arms, I’m drawn to the cloisonné technique used for the handle. The engraving depicts three acorns, which in heraldry symbolize strength, potential, and growth. The acorn represents the idea that great things can arise from small beginnings, much like how an acorn can grow into a mighty oak tree.
This elegant small stamp, crafted from agate, bears the alliance arms of a noble couple. I have identified two families that bore the coat of arms “Or, a saltire Gules”: the de Jarente (or Gérente) family, Marquises of Sénas and Orgeval, and the d’André family, Lords of Venelles. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to identify the other coat of arms.
Another stamp from the "orange tones" collection. The stone has a lovely luminosity, which gives the stamp an appealing look. The coat of arms is well-crafted, with a finely engraved Count's crown. In the quartered arms we can identify a tree, ermine, three fleurs de lis, and a jumping deer. But what seems odd is the gules cross on a gules shield. This may mean that only the contour of the cross may appear on the coat of arms. to be investigated further...
This stamp is engraved with the coat of arms of the van Oordt family from Holland. While it does not seem that the van Oordt family held a noble title, their arms can be found in the registry compiled by the A.A. Vorsterman van Oijen (1845-1912), in which the genealogies of approximately 600 Dutch families are included. The family has a documented lineage and has been involved in various professional fields. Gabriel van Oordt (1757–1836) was a member of the family who pursued theological studies at the universities of Leiden and Utrecht, eventually becoming a professor of theology at the University of Utrecht in 1804. The Van Oordt family had several distinct branches, particularly during and after the 17th century, with notable presences in Rotterdam, The Hague and Voorburg. Adri (1862–1944) and Hendrik Bleuland van Oordt (1868–1943) were part of the family.
I typically don’t collect stamps with monograms or initials, but this one caught my interest. It’s a Russian silver gilt and agate seal stamp from around 1860, carved in the shape of a baluster. The stone is beautiful, and the matrix is engraved with a crown and the Cyrillic letters I and V. What’s especially striking is the engraving on the top of the handle, which is the first of its kind in my collection. It features a lion and a unicorn, along with the initials, mantling, and another crown. The stamp came in its antique box, which adds to its appeal. The inner silk lining of the box displays the logo of "G. Thorbecke," with the name Moscou (Moscow in French), suggesting that the maker might have been Dutch or Dutch-speaking Belgian. The stamp is likely the work of Imperial Lapidary. While the original owners of this stamp remain unidentified, it’s certainly an intriguing addition to my collection.
This small stamp made of a beautiful orange stone belonged, without any doubt, to a member of the family de Pierres du Plessis-Baudouin. The moto of the family is indeed "Pour Loyauté Soutenir", as engraved below the shield of their coat of arms "Or, a cross patty and voided, Gules".
This stamp is engraved with the coat of arms of the Tinteniac family, whose members were the Marquis of Quimerc'h, the Barons of Combout, and Lords of Tréanna, Botilliau, the Percher, Haut-Bois, and Buzuech. Vincent de Tinténiac, a prominent member of this family, was born in 1764 in Quimper, where they owned the castle of Quimerc'h en Bannalec. Killed in 1795, he was a French general also referred to as "Chevalier de Tinténiac" (The Knight of Tinteniac), or by his nickname "Le Loup Blanc" (The White Wolf). The coat of arms "ermine, a crescent gules" is described in French as "d'hermines au croissant de gueules, qui est Quimerc'h". The three last words of the heraldic description emphasize that it belongs to the cadet branch Quimerc'h. (Ai)
Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.