The Silver Collection
Seal Stamps in Metal and Silver, Including Examples Dating to the 17th Century
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Ref 145 - ♥♥♥♥♥
This seal stamp belonged to Arthur Marie de Kermerc’hou de Kerautem and his wife Marie Caroline Emmanuelle de Saisy de Kerampuil. The de Kermerc’hou family was established in the dioceses of Tréguier, in Brittany. In 1669, the family proved its ancient noble lineage before the Chambre de Réformation, tracing its ancestry back to Philippe de Kermerc’hou, active at the musters of 1479–1480. The de Saisy de Kerampuil family originated in the Nivernais and settled in Brittany in the 14th century. Known as Kerampuil from the 15th century, they were maintained noble in 1669 and again recognized as noble of ancient chivalric extraction in 1778. Admitted to the honors of the Court in 1789, they bore the motto “Qui est Saisy est fort". A point of interest lies in the variable presence of the axe (hache) in representations of the Saisy arms. Some depictions show only the sword and wasp, omitting the axe entirely.
Stained-glass at the St Samson church
The arms of the de Saisy de Kerampuil family, depicting the axe
Comte Paul de Saisy de Kerampuil
Ref 146 - ♥♥♥♥♥
This seal was likely used in Italy during the late Baroque period, probably 1650-1750, and belonged to someone of noble status, perhaps duchess, noble lady, or abbess (due to the oval shield). The coat of arms shows a single vertical charge, possibly a sword or long arrow, rising from a mount or clouds. Stars or crosslets may also be present, though the engraving has become so worn that it is really difficult to identify. The outer border bears inscription, but equally difficult to read.
Ref 147 - ♥♥♥♥♥
This seal can be attributed to a member of the Reinhart zu Thurnfels und Ferklehen family. We can notice, however, that the flow of the river in the engraved arms runs in the opposite direction to that shown in some printed representations. Such variations are not uncommon in seals and later reproductions. More decisive is the crest, which depicts a lion between two wings, a distinctive and consistent element of the Reinhart zu Thurnfels und Ferklehen arms. This feature strongly supports the identification. The family belonged to the Austrian baronial (Freiherr) nobility and was primarily associated with civil and administrative service rather than military or court life. Its most notable member was Ignaz Freiherr Reinhart zu Thurnfels und Ferklehen (1782–1843), born in Innsbruck and later active in Vienna. Trained in law, he entered the Imperial House Archives in 1806 and rose through the ranks to become Director of the Imperial House, Court and State Archives.
Ref 148 - ♥♥♥♥♥
This silver wax seal stamp belonged to the Zollner von Massenbergs, a Styrian noble family whose name is directly linked to Massenburg, a hilltop fortress above Leoben in Austria. Originally, Zollner (or Zöllner) was an occupational surname meaning customs officer, but by the early 16th century the family had entered the ranks of the territorial nobility. In 1528, Veit Zollner von Massenberg received Massenburg as a hereditary fief in recognition of his services during the Peasants’ War of 1525. From that point, the territorial predicate “von Massenberg” became firmly attached to the family name, marking their integration into the Styrian knightly elite. The castle itself had earlier passed through several noble holders before coming into Zollner possession. As hereditary lords of Massenburg, the family formed part of the Habsburg feudal structure in Inner Austria. They belonged to the lower nobility, landowners and active in service, rather than to the high aristocracy.
Ref 317 - ♥♥♥♥♥
This very old metal seal is engraved with the arms of the Bodart family, a regional noble house of the Meuse and Namur - Liège, which appears to be extinct in the male line. The Bodart family was a lineage of the former Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the region of Namur, later also connected with Belgian Luxembourg and Huy - Tihange. Archives show records of two recognitions of nobility. In 1787: attestation of nobility by the penultimate King of Arms of the Principality of Liège, and in 1861: formal recognition of nobility for Auguste-Florent-Alphonse Bodart. Their arms can be described as: Per pale: 1st, per fess: a) gules, two dolphins haurient addorsed argent; b) azure, five bendlets or; 2nd, argent, three roses gules, seeded or and barbed vert. Crest: two dolphins haurient addorsed argent. An old version of these arms shows "smiling dolphins", which is unusual and charming. Medieval and early modern heraldry sometimes gave animals expressive or even humorous faces, especially in manuscript armorials. It reflects artistic style more than irony, but it certainly gives the arms personality. Among the members of the family, Auguste-Florent-Alphonse Bodart was mayor of Tihange, and Hubert Bodart, Ecuyer, was Premier Échevin (First Alderman) of the city and the County of Rochefort.
Ref 323 - ♥♥♥♥♥
The nice and deeply engraved arms shown on this seal represent the alliance between Josef Anton von Zallinger zum Thurn (1771 - 1825) and Maria Franziska von Egger zu Marienfried (or Marienfrid) (1779 - 1807). It is Bernard Zallinger (1605 - 1677) who founded the Zallinger von (or zum) Thurn lineage, after the Thurn estate, which they acquired in 1637. The arms of the Zallinger von Thurn branch differ from the original Zallinger arms by replacing one of the three fleurs-de-lys with a tower. The Zallinger von Thurn family was an old Austrian noble house originating from the mercantile elite of Bozen (Bolzano) in South Tyrol. Originally from Augsburg and Füssen, the family settled in Bozen in the late 16th century and rose through commerce, municipal office, and imperial service. Over time, it produced scholars, magistrates, consuls, churchmen, and notable intellectuals, becoming part of the educated aristocracy of the Habsburg world. The Egger von Marienfried family belonged to the Tyrolean administrative nobility associated with Innsbruck and Kufstein. Entered into the Tyrolean noble register in the early 18th century, the family rose through legal and governmental service. Members such as Josef Anton Egger von Marienfried held important judicial and administrative functions within the Habsburg monarchy. Together, both families illustrate the rise of a cultivated regional nobility rooted in service, education, and public administration rather than ancient feudal power.
Maria Franziska von Egger zu Marienfried
Seal engraved with both families' arms
Funeral card for Joseph von Zallinger zum Thurn
Ref 329 - ♥♥♥♥♥
Without certainty, this seal could possibly have belonged to the Matraini or the Casotti families. While the seal was bought from Nice, in France, research shows that both families appear to have had branches or descendants who moved beyond Italy, including into France. The Matraini family originated from Lucca, a Tuscan republic whose merchant families were highly international. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, many Lucchese commercial families established themselves abroad. It would not be surprising that individual members of the Matraini family settled in cities such as Lyon or Marseille, where many Italian merchant families became established. The best-known member of the family was Chiara Matraini (1515 - 1604), one of the most important female writers of the Italian Renaissance. The Casotti were also associated with Lucca and northern Italy, and some members did settle in France. There are traces of the name Casotti de la Rive and de Casotti, suggesting integration into francophone bourgeois or noble society. Some branches are also recorded in Croatia and Slovenia. Augustin Kažotić (Agostino Casotti) was the most important member of the old noble Kažotić - or Italianized Casotti - family of Trogir in Dalmatia. Born around 1260, he entered the Dominican Order and later studied theology in Paris, becoming one of the most learned churchmen of his time. Another member of the family was Giovambattista Casotti (1669 - 1736), an Italian priest belonging to the noble Casotti family branch of Bolognese origin later established in Tuscany. Educated in the humanist tradition, he became an important intellectual figure in Florence and Prato during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He served as rector of the Academy of Nobles, and member of the prestigious Accademia della Crusca. Archives show that he was a count (Conte in Italian), which matches with the coronet engraved on the seal. Giovambattista Casotti thus belonged to a comital branch of the Casotti family, and we could speculate that the seal belonged to a descendant of that family branch, which was probably one integrated into the Tuscan or Bolognese nobility.
Giovani Battista Casotti
Details of the seal made of silver
Agostino Casotti (Augustin Kažotić)
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Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.