Garling family - realia, 1840's, 1860's

R 944

fonds

1840's, 1860's

Graphic Materials, Objects

431574

Objects - H 3.9 x W 2.5 x D 2.2 cm. (seal), L 5.9 cm (fob chain), 1.6 cm. (loop). - 10.5 cm. (total length) - 1 fob seal, gold cased, attached at top to gold cased fob on curb link chain through a metal ring, and housed in rectangular wooden box

a. Fob seal, gold cased, Victorian, with applied floral decoration in rose, yellow, and green golds. The base is rectangular shaped and set with a foil backed pale yellow citrine hand engraved with an elaborate coat of arms being that of the Garling Family with the motto, "Loyal a la Mort", ca. 1840.
b. Fob, comprising a cylindrical shaped 'T' bar with replacement metal screw at one end, a loop in the centre that joins bar to curb link chain that has a triangular shaped engraved piece at opposite end to bar, and attached to seal on a metal ring, ca. 1860.
c. Box, wooden, rectangular shaped with hinged lid.

The seal dates from the early 1840's, and could be of colonial manufacture - certainly Sydney craftsmen such as Raphael Clint advertised their services as seal engravers in the 1830's and 1840's.
The ring joining the seal and fob chain is a later addition. The fob would originally have contained a watch key.
The box is not contemporary with the fob or seal but used to store these items from an unknown date.
The Garling family's significant involvement with Australia began with the arrival of Frederick Garling, his wife and five children, in Sydney in 1815. Since that time the extensive family clan has made major contributions to Australian society and culture. -- Reference: Curator of Pictures, Mitchell Library, Aug. 2003