suegray seaglass

Mysterious Wax Seal Tells A Story!

suegrayfitzpatrick — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:03:47 +0000

Two hearts, two skeleton keys and a skull, oh my! This is one of the most remarkable little desk seals I have ever found… it reads like a mysterious puzzle! I’d love to travel back in time, to the eighteenth century, to learn more about this seal and it’s owners! Truly one of a kind!At the top are the letters ISZ 3 MES which I have tried translating, unsuccessfully, so I presume they are the couples initials.
Under the initials are two hearts chained together but separate, out of which a plant seems to be growing from each. Next to each heart is a little padlock.
Under the padlock, a skull and under the skull are two crossed skeleton keys.
On either side of the intersected skeleton keys is a bird holding something in its beak.
For more information about the heraldic meanings of the symbols on this seal visit:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/92699730/wax-seal-necklace-two-hearts-two

I’m trying to put together the pieces of this symbolic puzzle, to learn the story of this wax seal. I love collecting these historical antique seals… especially the personal armorial seals, those engraved for one individual, long, long, ago! After I translate the basic heraldic symbolism, I wonder about the owner of the seal… what prompted him (or her, but usually it was a male that had his seal engraved) to choose those specific symbols to represent his life? I’m curious about his, or her, life and the contents of letters he or she wrote…

What’s your story?
I’m currently working on a special project and would love to have you to submit your own short stories or letters related to the wax seals in my vast collection. For more details, please contact me at suegrayseaglass@aol.com

lots of seaglass!

suegrayfitzpatrick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:53:33 +0000

Here we are, on Groundhog Day, with the announcement that there will be six more weeks of winter! Well, as long as winter continues to be mild, that’s ok with me! We’re still getting the storms that churn up the seas, delivering lots of seaglass to our shorelines but this mild winter weather keeps those “hard to get to” beaches accessible to us and it is so much easier to pick seaglass without gloves on!

I’d like to share my good fortune with you… when you order one of my single seaglass pendants, you will receive an extra green, pale green or white seaglass charm. If you have a color preference, please do let me know when you place your order. http://www.suegrayseaglass.com/shop_seaglass2.html

Sorry, but I don’t find enough cobalt seaglass to give that away. Enjoy the winter and Happy Picking!

Unofficial Correspondence

suegrayfitzpatrick — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:43:11 +0000

Not every wax seal engraving was official… in addition to the armorial and official seals, personal notes and letters still needed to be secured closed since there were no gummed envelopes, and a large variety of decorative or whimsical seals were readily available. It was the social obligation of every Victorian lady to write letters conveying news and information, and they excelled at this! They took great time and care in writing letters for everything… letters of congratulations, letters of introduction, love letters, letters of apology, letters of business, invitations and more. There were manuals to guide them in proper letter writing that explained in great detail how to write letters for every topic and social need, filled with do’s and don’ts, and included a handy formula for a cryptogram, secrets meant to be read between the lines!

two little lovebirds and a flaming heart

It is unlikely that the antique European wax seal with an engraving of two little lovebirds on either side of a flaming heart was used by a man for official business! More likely, ES was a woman madly in love! I’ve used her seal to hand stamp this wonderful necklace charm in fine silver. http://www.etsy.com/listing/89476404/two-little-lovebirds-and-a-flaming-heart

flaming heart ring

And here, I used just a portion of the wax seal to create this whimsical flaming heart wax seal ring! http://www.etsy.com/listing/91512064/flaming-heart-wax-seal-ring-wax-seal

carpe diem… seize the day!

suegrayfitzpatrick — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:46:10 +0000

What do historic wax seals and historic gravestones have in common? Although one is engraved for the living and the other engraved for the deceased, historic wax seals and historic gravestones have much in common… both have meaningful words and symbols that reveal a little bit about the lives of people of the past. Much can be learned by “reading” gravestones… the style of headstones and the symbols and inscriptions found on them reflect religious beliefs, social class and values, as well as cultural change over time. An historic cemetery is an outdoor history museum, wildlife refuge, botanical garden and a public art gallery!

the winged hourglass

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89599454/winged-hourglass-wax-seal-charm-necklace

The winged hourglass… I’ve paired two wax seal charms together to create this winged hourglass wax seal necklace in fine silver. Once again, inspired by the old stone carvings on the gravestones in historic cemeteries, the winged hourglass carvings date back to around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and have long been used as a message of man’s fleeting time on earth and the uncertainty of our moral future… in Latin, described as “carpe diem” which translates “seize the day”… my new years resolution!

Happy New Year!

Home Sweet Home

suegrayfitzpatrick — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:03:38 +0000

"allways at home"

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86945756/snail-wax-seal-necklace-allways-at-home

As I began to decorate our home for the holidays, thoughts and memories of holidays past and “home sweet home” flashed before me, and I started thinking… what is home? where is home? is it a physical location? is it a feeling? Here are a few famous quotes to contemplate…

“Where though art, that is home” ~ Emily Dickenson

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams” ~ unknown

“Where we love is home ~ home that our feet may leave but not our hearts” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

prepare for the holidays… seaglass ornaments class

suegrayfitzpatrick — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:02:57 +0000

Is your seaglass collection sitting in an old mason jar on your window sill? I’m sure that looks beautiful, but would you like to do more with it? Perhaps learn to wire wrap a few special pieces of seaglass to hang on your holiday tree?

On Wednesday, November 30th from 6 – 9 PM, I’ll be offering a seaglass ornament workshop at the Newport Art Museum. Gather your seaglass collection and bring it to this one day workshop. You’ll learn to wire wrap your seaglass to make unique ornaments for your holiday tree or to hang in the window to catch the winter sun. I’ll provide the wire and the hand tools… you provide the seaglass!

seaglass ornaments

for more info: http://newportartmuseum.org/pages/courses_details.cfm?courseID=1162

The Signet Ring

suegrayfitzpatrick — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:03:11 +0000

The signet ring is a finger ring containing a small seal. Historically, it was functional, as well as ornamental, and easily recognized as official. The word signet is derived from the latin word “signum”, meaning sign so this was a signature ring. The ring was constructed in metal, such as gold or silver, and the coat of arms or monogram would be engraved, in reverse, on the flat bezel on the top of the ring. Because the seal was in the form of a ring, the seal was always safe when worn by it’s owner or “ring bearer”, reducing the risk of theft and fraud. The ring was also seen as a symbol of the wearers power because it was used to attest the authority and authenticity of its bearer. After the death of its owner, the signet ring was often ceremoniously destroyed, which is why so few significantly historical rings bearing seals of monarchs, politicians and religious leaders are found today, making them highly collectible. Very few copies of official signet rings were ever created, in order to reduce the chances of fraud. Most likely, surviving rings of notable owners would be found in museum collections.

Do you have a signet ring or wax seal that you would like me to stamp in fine silver to create a custom wax seal charm for yourself or as a personalized gift for family members? I do that! Just email me at suegrayseaglass@aol.com and we can work out the details!

a recent custom order from a family signet ring

happy halloween to all ye witches!

suegrayfitzpatrick — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:05:45 +0000

One of the funnier fob seals I’ve added to my collection… a little witch flying on her broomstick, surrounded by the words “all have their hobbies.” A fob seal is much smaller than a desk (wax) seal. It was made to be worn on a gentleman’s watch chain or as a piece of jewelry for a woman, perhaps as a bracelet charm or threaded onto a chain or ribbon and worn around her neck. This fob seal setting is pinchbeck, which means brass made to look like gold, with the witch engraved in amethyst at the base of the setting. The fob dates back to the Victorian Era between 1837 – 1901. I know which fine silver wax seal charm I’ll be wearing this weekend! Happy Halloween!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80775289/witch-wax-seal-necklace-all-have-their

a witch flying on her broomstick

happy seaglass picking!

suegrayfitzpatrick — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:53:11 +0000

I love to go seaglass/sea glass picking… always have, for as long ago as I can remember. There is something so very special about every piece I tuck into my pocket or bag… the color, how it looks when you hold it up to the sun, the way it looks wet or dry, the texture and sparkle, the way it feels when you rub it with your thumb and fingers, the wonder of it’s previous life… how did it begin? who did it belong to? what did it hold? when did it begin its journey? where did it enter the water… before it landed at this beach? And it’s so much more than what I find… it’s the salty breeze on my skin, the scent of the salty air, the sound of the surf and of the stones and sand moving beneath my feet and the way that time seems to stop for me.

There is quite a lapse of time between when I find a piece of seaglass and when I turn it into a beautiful piece of jewelry… I’m very possessive with my collection of treasures and some pieces will stay with me forever, in one of my many collections scattered throughout my home.

I know that I’m describing most seaglass collectors here… and I understand all the requests I get to turn your special seaglass pieces, with their memories, into jewelry. I’m always happy to oblige… I get it!

some seaglass beauties from a recent excursion

Tiny Bronze Skull Charm for Halloween… 2 for 1

suegrayfitzpatrick — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:52:09 +0000

In my never-ending quest for unique antique wax seals, I found a wonderful antique wheel wax seal that dates back to Georgian times, 1714 – 1837. It has a beautiful dark stone handle with six little gemstone seals at the ends of each wheel “spoke” and one of my very favorite seals is an engraved skull surrounded by the latin words “es fui sum eris” which translates “thou art, I was, I am, thou wilt be.” I thought it would be great to stamp a portion of this seal into bronze, the skull only, to create a wonderful little Halloween charm! It measures approximately 3/8″ and comes ready to thread onto your favorite chain or leather cord.

Buy one for yourself and receive an extra one to give a friend… Happy Halloween! Simply go to: http://www.etsy.com/listing/82176009/tiny-skull-wax-seal-charm-thou-art-as-i and when you place your order, write a note to seller “one free for a friend” and I’ll send 2 little bronze skull charms for the price of one! This offer expires on Halloween 2011.

If you’d like to purchase but don’t have an etsy account, just email me at: suegrayseaglass@aol.com and I’ll send you a paypal invoice.and here’s a photo of the original seal from which it’s stamped