Bidspirit auction | Earl of Warwick's Brass Skippet

Earl of Warwick's Brass Skippet - Earl of Warwick's Brass Skippet A brass circular container to hold seals, used to authenticate a document or letter. On the lid is an engraved crest for the Earls of Warwick in Warwickshire County, England, showing a collared and muzzled bear standing on his rear feet holding a ragged staff to which he is not chained. Over the bear's head is a crown. Underneath the crest is a banner with the name ”WARWICK.” The Warwick crest has been associated with the Earls of Warwick at least as early as the 1300s. The bear and ragged staff were first used by the Beauchamp family who became Earls of Warwick in 1268 as a badge or mark of identity in addition to their own coat-of-arms. The bear implies boldness and courage. Since the bear is not chained to the staff, this is the crest of the Earls of Warwick and not the Warwickshire County Council which uses the crest but has the bear chained to the staff. Provenance: Lucy Mitchell who lived on the Connecticut coast and had a very large collection of works by James S. Ellsworth; Arthur Liverant, Colchester, Connecticut 1 x 3 1/8 in. (2.5 x 7.9 cm.) Condition: Condition reports are not provided in catalog descriptions. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is in good condition or free from damage and wear. We encourage you to request a condition report and/or additional photos prior to bidding on any lot. We also recommend asking for a shipping quote before bidding. CASH, CASHIER CHECK, MONEY ORDER, AND WIRE TRANSFER ARE THE ONLY METHODS OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED FOR JEWELRY.