AN HISTORICAL GOLD FOB SEAL OWNED BY THOMAS AND JOHN HANCOCK

CIRCA 1760

Details

AN HISTORICAL GOLD FOB SEAL OWNED BY THOMAS AND JOHN HANCOCK
Circa 1760
The gold openwork stem with shells and masks, the citrine matrix carved with the Hancock arms within a rococo cartouche
7/8in. long

Provenance

Same as preceding lot, sold Christie's, New York, January 17-18, 1992, lot 184

Sale room notice

The count for this lot is 1.

Lot Essay

The arms on this seal are those of Hancock, as borne by Thomas Hancock (1703-1764), childless uncle and adoptive father of John Hancock, the patriot. Upon his father's early death, John Hancock was raised by his wealthy uncle, who made him an equal partner in his business, Thomas Hancock & Company, in 1763. John Hancock probably inherited this seal upon Thomas's death in 1764, and it descended through the family with John Hancock's own watch and seal described in the previous lot.

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