Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on what this might be? Each of the round stamps unscrews, and they have different drawings and text on each. One says “FAITHFUL” with a dog, another says “WHILE I LIVE I’LL CROW” with a rooster, one has SHAKESPEARE and a portrait. There are 8 different stamps including one on each side of the centre ‘hub’. Pretty sure it’s brass. It’s about 30mm wide. The centre hub is about 15mm high, and each wheel is about 12mm across the face.
In the Victorian era, ladies would seal the letters they sent to lovers and friends with wax seals that depicted various different sentiments.
ORIGINS: These cufflinks are made using an antique Victorian “seal wheel” dating back to the late 1700′s, early 1800′s, and is stamped with the words “While I live I’ll Crow” above a rooster. Whimsical seals that conveyed the sentiments of the sender were popular with ladies of the Victorian era, who would have a ‘seal wheel’ with various sentiments to choose from. This antique may have sealed marriage proposals, words of comfort to a dear friend – one can only imagine the history behind such an antique.
MEANING: The rooster is a Victorian symbol of pride and paired with its motto, it is a reminder to speak out and stand by your convictions. In heraldry, the rooster or cock symbolizes courage and perseverance; and is vigilant and protective.
The flamboyant actor Robert Coates used to go out in a custom-built carriage with a heraldic device of a crowing cock and the motto “While I live, I’ll crow!”
The rooster is a Victorian symbol of pride and paired with its motto, it is a reminder to speak out and stand by your convictions. In heraldry, the rooster or cock symbolizes courage and perseverance; and is vigilant and protective. The flamboyant actor Robert Coates used to go out in a custom-built carriage with a heraldic device of a crowing cock and the motto “While I live, I’ll crow!”
CUFF LINKS: These cuff links are made out of fine silver (99.9% pure), and hand stamped with an antique Victorian wax seal of a rooster with the words “While I Live, I’ll Crow”, then attached to silver tone cuff link backings.
Each cuff link is stamped, sanded, polished and oxidized for an antique look. Because they are hand-stamped individually and made to order, these seal stampings are truly unique, and no two stampings are the same (unlike those cast from a mold). The cuff links are also available in copper.
DIMENSIONS: The cuff link face is slightly larger than 1/2″ across.
