Ink seal matrix with Pilawa and Szreniawa coats of arms

In the collection of the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, almost forty sphragistics pieces – seals or seal matrixes – have survived. The term ‘sphragistics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘sphragis’ standing for a seal (alternatively called sigillography after the Latin word ‘sigillum’) and defines the branch of auxiliary historical sciences where research focuses on interpreting the meaning of seals and determining the circumstances of their creation. The history of sphragistics dates back to the 19th century; at that time, it was noticed that seals could serve as a valuable source material contributing knowledge on political, heraldic and diplomacy arrangements as well as other motifs concerning the past.

The set of seals and seal matrixes preserved in the collection of the Museum dates back to the 18th century. Seals and matrixes are connected not only with the Wilanów estate. The set contains objects that can be associated with specific persons – the owners of Wilanów in the context of posts held by them, but also objects that document the system of administering estates and their functioning, not only the Wilanów estate.

The object shown here is an ink seal matrix (other matrixes can be used for lacquer seals). The seal matrix – the part containing the sign to be impressed – was made in brass, has an oval shape and is concavely engraved (i.e., the impressed image is cut into the surface). The seal matrix has a long wooden dark brown handle. In the seal field, a Swiss escutcheon (the term defines the shape of the escutcheon field) is engraved; it is divided through the middle into two fields containing emblems of two coats of arms: Pilawa and Szreniawa without a Cross. The first emblem from the Pilawa coat of arms was a mark of the Potocki family, whereas the second emblem – Szreniawa without a Cross – was a mark of the Lubomirski family. The combination of these two coats of arms allows us to associate this seal matrix with the period in the history of Wilanów when representatives of both families lived there. Such a situation took place from the late 18th century, when Aleksandra née Lubomirska (1758 or 1760–1831) and her spouse Stanisław Kostka Potocki (1755–1821) became owners of the estate.