{"product_id":"antique-french-armorial-wax-seal-fruitwood-brass-ca-1880","title":"Antique French Armorial Wax Seal Fruitwood Brass Ca. 1880","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eA personal desk seal from provincial France, hand-engraved brass matrix seated in a turned fruitwood handle in the classic baluster profile. The armorial shows a shield with mantling and a charge above, set within an oval border, consistent with the personal seals used by French bourgeois and provincial gentry through the second half of the 19th century. I have not been able to identify the specific family, and a fresh wax impression reads the device far more clearly than the matrix itself. The brass carries a warm century-old patina, the wood has darkened honey tones and scattered inclusions from decades of handling, and the engraved lines still hold dark wax residue from genuine use. Sourced in the south of France.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e[d]Type | Armorial desk seal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Material | Hand-engraved brass matrix, turned fruitwood handle, brass ferrule [d]Origin | France, sourced in the south of France\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Age | Circa 1880\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Style | French personal armorial, provincial bourgeois or gentry\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Size | 3.5 in H x 1.25 in D overall, matrix 1 in W x 0.75 in D\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Device | Shield with mantling and charge above, within an oval border, family unidentified\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[d]Signature | No maker's marks or stamps on the brass\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e[condition] Overall condition is good and consistent with age and genuine use. The fruitwood handle is structurally stable with no splits, cracks, or loose joinery. The surface shows expected handling marks, minor scuffs, and darkened areas from a century of use, all of which contribute to the character of the piece. The brass matrix is solid, not plated, and carries the warm aged patina typical of period brass. Engraved lines retain dark wax residue from use, which reads on the matrix face but prints cleanly in fresh wax. The matrix sits tight in the ferrule with no wobble. Fully functional and ready to use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie Design","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51241027469590,"sku":"AMD-02911","price":220.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/78A4C444-68BA-4A33-9DE5-A8D60143CAB4_1_201_a.heic?v=1776961699","url":"https:\/\/austynmariedesign.com\/products\/antique-french-armorial-wax-seal-fruitwood-brass-ca-1880","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}