A rare Charles Gouyn Seal Fob, circa 1750-59
This rare Charles Gouyn (St James’s, Girl-in-a-Swing) seal fob is modelled as Cupid resting on an anchor. He sits on a pale turquoise enamel mound, and his facial features, hair and wings are delicately picked out. Gold-mounted and set with a carnelian seal matrix engraved with two hearts beneath a curved arrow and the motto LE ENVIE (The desire).
Apparently unrecorded, I have been unable to identify an example of this seal fob in Bryant or any of the major collections.
Tiny seal fobs such as this, often richly decorated and mounted in gold, were made for wealthy aristocrats to give as gifts and love tokens.
Condition: Excellent – no damage or restoration.
Dimensions: Height (to top of ring attachment) 2.9 cm
The Chelsea Porcelain Toys: Scent-bottles, Bonbonnieres, Etuis, Seals and Statuettes, made at the Chelsea Factory, 1745-1769 & Derby Chelsea, 1770-1784, G.E. Bryant (The Medici Society, 1925).
Chelsea Porcelain, Elizabeth Adams (The British Museum Press, 2001).