A superb antique French Palais Royal wax seal wheel with 6 different intaglios all engraved into colorful semi-precious stone matrices. Prong set into an ornate gilt ormolu spokes. In good antique condition, some wear/scratches to the intaglios commensurate with age and use. This wax seal wheel would have been attached to a handle, sold as is. Measures 1 3/8" diameter. The matrices are 5/8" x 1/2" oval.
The intaglios are as follows:
Amethyst: Repondez Vite (Respond quickly) above a pictorial depicting a dove in flight with letter to deliver.
Chalcedony: Featuring a pictorial of a blazing sun rising over mountains with French motto 'Je Reviendrai' (I'll come back / I will return).
Chrysoprase: Bon Soir (Good night) above pictorial of a hand holding a candle snuffer, ready to extinguish the flame of the lit candle.
Bloodstone: Depicting an open birdcage with a song bird flying away and the French motto: 'Qui me Neglige, me Perd' / Who Neglects me, loses me. A stern reminder to care for and nourish the things in life that matter to you.
Carnelian: A picture of a leaf with the French motto Je Ne Change Qu'en Mourant / I change only in death.
Citrine: Featuring an image of the devil. Complete with horns, a tail and holding a pitch fork, he is depicted carrying away Cupid on his back. Accompanied with the French phrase Le Diable Emporte L’Amour / The Devil with Love, or more popularly The Hell with Love!