Sealing Seal - Sterling Silver And Garnet - Period: XIXth Century

Lovely old seal, in finely chiseled solid silver.
It represents a religious figure dressed in a Benedictine monk's robe and brandishing a cross with his right hand. He rests barefoot on a chiseled silver globe representing the Earth, magnified by 12 small encrusted “round cut” garnets.
This is placed on a base forming a cylinder, finely chiseled, monogrammed in Gothic letter.

Period: 19th century
Dimensions: Height: 7cm - Diameter: 2cm
Four Hallmarks (illegible): Two on the left sleeve and Two on the base.

This religious figure refers to Saint Benedict (480-547), founder of the Benedictine order. He is especially considered by Catholics and Orthodox as the founder of Western monasticism.

In other words, it was he who invented this particular form of life within the Church that we will call “monk”.

Gregory the Great will relate in his book: "Dialogues", the miracles of Saint Benedict, and in particular the fights of Saint Benedict against the devil.

In his right hand he holds a cross. The cross represents the saving power of Christ and the work of evangelization accomplished by the Benedictines throughout the centuries.