"Always At Home" French Snail Seal

This one-of-a-kind pendant features a late-1800s Victorian watch fob seal, originally crafted in France in solid 14k gold. The gold fob design is adorned with delicate floral motifs and intricate hand-tooled detailing, showcasing the artistry characteristic of the era.

At its center rests an inset carnelian stone engraved with an intaglio portrait of a snail, encircled by the French phrase “Toujours Chez Moi,” translating to “Always at Home.”

A charming symbol of rootedness and return, this antique seal has been thoughtfully transformed into a wearable pendant. It measures approximately 1" in height and just under 1" at its widest point.

The History of Intaglio Seals

With letters the main form of correspondence prior to the 1900s, intaglio seals were used to seal papers and documents with wax to ensure they remained unopened until it reached its intended recipient. These seals often held personal initials, family crests, heraldry, and other meaningful imagery. Owning a desk seal was a necessity for the middle and upper classes, but those who were too poor to afford such a luxury or were illiterate relied on a local scribe. These scribes would not only dictate messages, but the sender would choose from their assortment of seals as a preview to the message inside their letter.