Featured Wax Seal Stamp

This majestic owl is a memorable part of my childhood, as it watched over our dining room, from its vantage point on the top glass shelf in my parents’ display case.

The wax seal stamp (about 2.25"/6 cm. high and 1"/2.5 cm. at the widest point) bears my maternal grandfather’s initials in Latin letters. Now, as I prepare to pass it along to my nephew, who shares the same first initial and name, I would welcome any additional information I could include in the notes I am writing for him: for example, the likely material (brass?), the likely country of origin, the artist and any meaning/symbolism underlying the owl standing atop the book (other than symbolizing knowledge and wisdom). Searching Google images, I could not find any with an owl atop a book.

Also, does anyone have an idea as to what the two protruding pieces under the owl and over the sides of the book represent? They don’t seem to be feet or talons.

 

I would guess bronze. Sitting atop a book, so a symbol of learning and wisdom.

Here's a bit on why:
https://www.quora.com/How-did-owls-come-to-be-associated-with-wisdom-and-knowledge

Owls are still seen in a very negative light in a lot of cultures, omens of evil and familiars of witches. They have a ying yang reputation.

I remember showing an owl figurine to a fellow picker and his only comment was, "You'd never find it in an Italian house."

I like the look of it.

 

Hi @DBinSV, my own thoughts on your query about the two protruding pieces on top of the book and under the owl, would be they are or rather, it is meant to be a weight to hold the place in the book if one were leaving it open on a stand........just my humble guess...... kind of a flexible weight to lay across an open book if my meaning is clear. Whoever designed the piece was being pretty exact, I'd say!! It's a very cool piece!!!! I would think your nephew would be very happy to have it!!!!

 

Ive seen old books that have a metal locking mechanism encasing them,maybe something like that ? Charming little fellow.

 

A wonderful piece, love the owl.
Here in the Netherlands statues and figurines of owls on top of books were often a present when someone graduated from university. Your grandfather’s seal could have been a similar present.
Some Dutch bronze owls, graduation presents:

 

Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos of owls atop books! It would certainly make sense that this was a graduation gift.

The idea about that protruding piece being a weight or holder to keep the book open sounds right on the mark to me. When I look at it from the front, it seems that there is a handle on the left. So maybe it was a tool for keeping books open that was popular a century ago.

Really appreciate all the excellent insight!

 

Do you mean this?


It looks like the pieces are not on the outside but on the inside, maybe something like bookmarks?

 

Hi,
I think the item they are describing is like a book mark to keep the pages open, not a locking device.
greg

 

Brass is more usual. The piece with the engraved initials looks like it might be a different metal than the 'matrix', which would have been pre-made. Really love that owl.

Believe that in some cultures they are seen as the embodiment of stupidity (the animal trainers who supplied all the owls for the Harry Potter films would agree with this); the serpent is the symbol of wisdom.

I have a lovely Italian gold ring set with a Venetian glass intaglio of an owl, so guess they recognize their appeal in the foreign market.

The underside of the book does seem to have a strap for holding it closed, but it does not run up over the sides of the book. I can't think why the modeler would have left a book weight defying gravity that way, also can't think of a better account for it.