Seal Of Captain Claude Martin? Ivory. 18th Century.

Seal with the initials "CM" on either side of a marine anchor, surrounded by the motto "Labore et constantia" (Work and perseverance). Mounted on a solid ivory base. Height: 11.8 cm. Cites provided. Claude Martin, originally from Lyon, sold his services to the French East India Company and later to the English East India Company. He began his apprenticeship as a weaver, but, eager to make his fortune, he enlisted in the French East India Company in 1751 and embarked on December 9th from Lorient, bound for Pondicherry, where he arrived on July 20th of the following year. He served with the company in Pondicherry and Porto-Novo, and found himself under the command of Lally-Tollendal in 1758. However, judging that France no longer had much of a future in India, he decided to pursue his building work alone in 1760 and offered his services to Eyre Coote, the commander of the British forces, joining the Free French Company. (Wikipedia) The origin of this seal is not proven, but it is striking to note that the initials correspond to those of the famous Claude Martin, as well as his motto.