Nicolas De l'Hospital: Exceptional Bronze Seal Marshal Of France Louis XIII XVIIth Arms

Rare seal from the beginning of the 17th century having belonged to an illustrious personage of the kingdom, museum piece.

The seal is made of bronze, in one piece, the matrix is round and the grip rectangular.

The matrix is engraved with the arms of Marshal de Vitry, under a Marquis crown, on Marshal's sticks, with the collar of the order of the Holy Spirit: Quarterly: at I, strewn with golden fleurs-de-lys on a label of four pendants of gules brochant (Anjou-Sicily), in II, gold with four pales of gules (Aragon); III, per side, a, sable with two leopards Or, one on the other (Rouhault), b, cut, 1 burelé Or and gules (Volvire-Ruffec), 2, gules nine gold twins ordered 3, 3, 3, a brocade silver label (Rohan-Montauban); IV, gules with a cross anchored in vair (La Châtre); over all Gules, to a rooster Argent, crested, membered and bearded Or, bearing at the neck an escutcheon Azure, charged with a fleur-de-lis Or (L'Hôpital) .

Nicolas de L'Hospital, known as Marshal de Vitry, was born in 1581 and died in 1644. In 1617, he was elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France by Louis XIII. In 1644, his duchy of Vitry was established and then promoted to a peerage duchy in 1650.
He became Marshal for his participation in the assassination of Concino Concini, advisor to Marie de Medici, commissioned by Louis XIII in order to put an end to his mother's regency.
The arms of this seal are under a marquis crown and on marshal's batons, this allows us to date the seal after the appointment of Maréchal in 1617 and before the erection of the duchy of Vitry in 1644. The large size of the seal and the simplicity of the materials suggests that this seal was used for official documents.

I thank the members of the Héraldique Francaise group for their valuable help.

A seal of a Marshal of France from the first half of the 17th century is a historical and extremely rare piece, Louis XIII having appointed 32 marshals during his reign.
In addition to being a true historical document forming part of the history of France, the quality and richness of the engraving make it a superb object of art!

3 cm diameter for the matrix
3.5 cm high

44.10 grams

Very good state. Scratches and small shocks from use.


Hand delivery in Paris or sending by insured Colissimo.

France: 15€
Europe: 20€
World: €35