SEAL OF THE OCCULT TO SELL AT BONHAMS

Friday, 18 August 2006 11:18

London - A remarkable 19^th century ‘occult’ seal that was probably used in a magic circle or coven is to be sold at Bonhams next month.  It is among one of the most extensive collections of seals to come to the market in recent years and will be sold at Bonhams’ first ever sale with a section devoted to seals in London next month.  The Sale of Silver & Vertu including Card Cases and Seals will take place at Bonhams, Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, on 5 September 2006.

Occultism is the study of truth or hidden wisdom, and encompasses magic, sorcery, voodoo, extra-sensory perception, talismans, astrology, and numerology.  This extraordinary seal features many symbols relating to occultism, with the ivory handle carved as a snake – traditionally associated with immortality or evil – coiled on top of a skull – the symbol of death.  The brass matrix is engraved with a pentagram, a five-sided star which has been used symbolically since ancient times.  It has long associations with magic, freemasonry, world religions, and the planet Venus.  This 10cm-high seal, expected to fetch between £1,200 – 1,800, is a highlight of a single-owner collection of seals belonging to manuscript expert Roy Davids, whose private collection of portraits Bonhams sold for over half a million pounds in October 2005.  He began collecting seals years ago as part of his interest in writing-related materials and heraldry.

The use of seals to authenticate and secure documents is a practice as old as writing itself, and dates from the fourth millennium BC.  Seals have fascinating historical links with biblical characters, the birth of international trade and governments and royal families worldwide.  For centuries it was customary for people of all backgrounds and languages to use and recognize seals as a signature and endorsement, and they are still used in East Asian business agreements and by monarchs and ruling parliaments.  However, gone are the days when families, individuals and companies habitually used seals to authenticate documents, and they have now become a coveted collectors item.  Many seals carved by well-known engravers or owned by notorious or famous people, have become valuable as works of art and history. Every seal is unique and in this lies their fascination.