THE SIR ROWLAND ERRINGTON DESK SEAL A 19TH CENTURY BLOODSTONE, MOTHER OF PEARL, AMETHYST AND AGATE MULTI MATRIX DESK SEAL, CIRCA 1820 Modelled as a hand holding a scroll, the tapered bloodstone cuff set with applied gold floral detail, and oval chalcedony matrix to terminal engraved with the arms, the mother of pearl clasped hand set with a gem set ring to the pink, the scroll each set with a matrix to each terminal, the agate matrix engraved with initials and crest engraved to the amethyst matrix (Length: 7.3cm, matrix: 2.5cm x 2.2cm, smaller matrix diameter: 1cm) Provenance: Christie's London, 27th November 1991, lot 3 Heraldry: The arms of Errington Crest: A unicorn's head erased The arms: argent two bars azure, in chief three escallops azure Note: The family descends from the senior branch of Stanley (from a junior line of which descend the Earls of Derby). A baronetcy was created in 1662, and the 9th Baronet, Sir Thomas Stanley, married in 1805 Mary Haggerston, heiress of her father and also of the Errington estates through her maternal grandmother. Sir Thomas was succeeded first by his eldest son, and subsequently in 1863 by his second son, Rowland, for whom this seal was made. Sir Rowland born in 1809 assumed [1820] by Royal Licence the surname of Errington only, in pursuance of the will of his mother's cousin, Henry Errington of Sandhow, Hampshire. He married in 1839 Julia, daughter of Lt. Gen. Sir John Macdonald, KCB, and was one of the co-heirs of the Baronies of Umfraville and Kyme. He died in 1875 leaving three daughters, and was succeeded in the Baronetcy by his younger brother, who inheriting, also assumed the name of Errington. For a similar seal (dated early 20th Century) see the Capellini Collection, La Spezia, illustrated Les Sceaux; empreintes du pouvoir, 2000. p.158