Sealing wax case

Unknown

17th century · Iron, cast · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This sealing wax case would have been used to store sealing wax; the faceted end was then used to impress the melted wax with the owner’s cypher, in this case conjoined R’s. The foliate pattern with classicized figures is common among comparable objects, however the openwork is less so. Unlike the other, later, French cases with seals in the department’s collection, this example was produced in iron, demonstrating the range of material production, particularly at this earlier date. [Ellenor M. Alcorn, 2014]

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Iron, cast

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Joseph G. Reinis, 2014