Silver Sealing Wax
Silver sealing wax items are tactile desk accessories that bring period letter-writing to life, combining precious metal with functional stationery.
Silver Sealing Wax
Silver sealing wax pieces encompass desk seals, holders, vesta combos, and bougie boxes designed for correspondence. These items emerge from Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods.
The most common examples on this page are Edwardian sterling silver holders and novelty desk seals. Buyers frequently encounter combination pieces that pair wax storage with vesta cases or matchboxes.
Originating as practical tools for sealing letters with wax, these objects span simple functional tubes to elaborate figural designs like the Cheshire Cat, Jester, Mr Punch, and hatching chicks.
What varies in quality
Quality rests on the crispness of the silversmith's cast detail and the complexity of the design. Novelty items with figurative forms or combination uses demonstrate higher craftsmanship.
The survival of original components, such as unused sealing wax or matching intaglio glass seals within a fitted box, elevates the integrity of the piece.
The selection includes sterling silver, glass, coral, and steel spanning the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.
Sampson Mordan·Robert Hennell·Samuel Jacobs·Mappin And Webb
The Silver Sealing Wax Glossary
- Vesta case
- A pocket or desk box designed to hold matches, frequently combined with a sealing wax holder in Edwardian pieces.
- Bougie box
- A small container utilised for holding a taper or wax candle used to melt sealing wax for correspondence.
- Intaglio
- A design engraved into the face of a glass or stone seal so that it leaves a raised impression in sealing wax.
- Desk seal
- A handheld implement featuring a matrix at the base for stamping wax with a personal crest or initials.
Silver Sealing Wax: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a silver sealing wax holder?
A silver sealing wax holder is a desk accessory made to store sticks of coloured wax safely when not in use.
Many examples double as handles for stamps or combine with match containers for correspondence.
How do you use a desk seal?
A desk seal is pressed firmly into hot wax to leave a crisp, permanent impression of an initial or crest.
The metal matrix must be clean and slightly warmed to prevent the wax from sticking.
How do I date an Edwardian piece?
Edwardian silver pieces date from the reign of Edward VII between nineteen hundred and nineteen ten.
Assay office marks and date letters stamped into the silver provide the exact year of manufacture.