Seal matrix of Stanisław Kostka Potocki

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 seal matrix shown here is concavely engraved (which means that the impressed image is cut into the surface). The eight-angled matrix is put on a roll-shaped holder. In the seal field, there is an English escutcheon (the term English defines the shape of the escutcheon) with the Pilawa emblem – two and a half of a cross in a blue field. Over the escutcheon, there is a bar helmet with mantling that grows from it – a plant ornament in the shape of a symmetrically arranged plant stalks. Over the helmet, there is a sign of dignity of the person using the seal described here – a nine-stick count’s crown and a jewel – a plume of five ostrich feathers. The coat of arms is surrounded with an inscription in French: LE COMTE STANISLAS POTOCKI. It is, therefore, a seal matrix used by Stanisław Kostka Potocki (1755–1821) – a co-owner of the Wilanów estate (due to his marriage with Aleksandra née Lubomirska), politician, writer, researcher of antiquity and art historian, the founder of the first art museum in Poland opened in the former mansion of King John III Sobieski at Wilanów in 1805.