$245.00
Qty available: 1
Always varying yet ever true, the windmill or in French "moulin a vent" antique intaglio wax seal stamp or desk seal.

- description -
An antique German desk wax seal with an engraving of a windmill, with four vanes and a flag at the top, above the initials RG.

The windmill is a rather complicated structure which was built for the simple purpose of grinding small grains... it converts the energy of wind to a rotational motion by means of adjustable vanes called sails. Some windmills were built in the direction of prevailing winds and some were built with a horizontal axle so that they could turn to face the wind. A miller is one of the oldest occupations... one who made his living operating the windmill and grinding the grain into flour. The miller worked when the wind was blowing... often at night or during storms.

- symbolism -
In heraldry and history, the motto of the windmill is "always varying yet ever true."

Presumably, the original owner of this early 1900's wax seal was a miller, with the initials RG. He used this wax seal to stamp his correspondence. I'm not sure if the painted 1912 at the top of the handle signifies its year or its number in the collection from which it came.

Isn't history just fascinating?

- approximate measurement - 3 1/4" (80mm) tall
- wood turned handle
- matrix measurement - 7/8" x 5/8" (22mm x 16mm)
- metal - bronze

All sales final on antique wax seals - no returns
Go make some history!