Featured Eprouvez Heraldic Seal Fob

I've been searching for a bloodstone watch fob for a while now, and couldn't help but splurge on this fob when it came up at auction. The bezel is pinchbeck, I think, but the carving appears to be of very fine quality. I've done some searches, but I haven't been able to find the coat of arms. I was hoping the design of the fob might be appear to offer an idea of its age, or that the coat of arms might be familiar to one of you. I'd love to hear what you think!

Edit: It may say Eprouves or Eprouvez. Not sure which. Can't tell if there is an accent mark. Under a loupe, the creature on the top has two horns and a beard, like some sort of dragon/beast.

Edit 2: I found this plate with a similar dragon figure and Eprouvez, that the seller dates to the 1700s: https://picclick.com/Chinese-Export-Porcelain-Armorial-Plate-Coat-of-Arms-382056572328.html

 

After further searching, I found an article mentioning the Wynyard family crest, which apparently features a heraldic antelope and the motto Eprouvez. But I can't find a picture of their crest online.

Here is another resource I found about the Wynyard family:


The name of Wynyard appears to have existed from an early period, at least in
the West of England. In the pedigree of the Drewes of Devonshire, we find that
" Robert French of Horneford, Devon, married Matilda, daughter and heir of
Rob^ Wynyard of Harcomb, in the same county ;" and possibly the Wynard Alms-
houses at Exeter may have been founded by a member of the same family. There
is a spot called Wynyard's Gap at Cheddington, in the county of Dorset, and it will
be remembered also that Lord Londonderry's seat in the county of Durham bears
this name.

The word Wiii-eard, or Win-gear d is the Anglo-Saxon parent of our English
Vineyard; and seems to have been not an uncommon patronymic in Holland —
many books, for example, having been published at Leyden in the seventeenth
century, ex officind Adriani Wyngaerden. The name may, therefore, have been of
Anglo-Saxon, local, or continental derivation.

In King James's ' Discourse of Powder-Treason,' (Works, 1616,) he says : " And
enquiring of Whyneard, Keeper of the Wardrobe, to what use hee had put those
lower roumes, & cellars," &c. p. 228 ; and again, p. 230, "it was thought meet that
upon pretence of Whyneard' s missing some of the King's stuffe, or hangings," &c.

There seems no reason to doubt that this man was the ancestor of the family of
which we treat, viz. : John Wynyard, who was Groom of the Wardrobe to Queen
Elizabeth, etc. ; and who died soon after the discovery of the plot, Jan. 20, 1606.
In all probability, too, he would be the John Wynyard of London, gent., son and
heir of Geo. Wynyard, gent., to whom arms were granted 2nd Jan., 1579, viz. :
Paly of six argent and sable on a chief gules a lion passant argent. Crest : On a
wreath'of the colours, a mount vert thereon a tiger sejant ermine. Motto : Eprouvez.

A pedigree is in existence compiled by some professional pedigree-manufacturer,
and based in apparent error on a certain almanack and memorandum book, which had
been in the possession of some member of the family ; but originally seems to have
belonged to " Henry Rimborne," to whom and to whose family the entries probably
refer. Whoever was its possessor, it appears that he was the Yeoman Usher of the
Black Rod, whose fees he records, and also that the Coronation jewels and robes
were entrusted to his charge, April 23, 1661. He speaks of "Brother Wenham,"
thus connecting him with John Wynyard, who mentions " Cousin John Wenham,"
in 1686, as stated below.

 

What does it say, if anything, below Eprouvez?

 

I can't make it out even with my loupe. I only have white sealing wax, which doesn't show the letters well. The top part looked like "unia" or "lunia" but I can't tell.

 

Thank you so much!

 

Barn Owl, the arms are for Wynyard, as your initial search turned up.

The armorial plate, that you found pictures of, is Wynyard impaling St Leger, from the marriage of Colonel William Wynyard to Kitty St Leger in 1758. It was their marital china.

 

Thank you so much, Ewan! Are you knowledgeable about coat of arms? I purchased another antique coat of arms seal recently that I've been meaning to post about.

 

PM me and I can tell you more about this particular family. It's more the Wynyards that I know about, rather than heraldry in general.

 

hi there, how much did you purchase for? And how much would you sell please.
I’m a descendant of Robert Henry Wynyard and John Wynyard, I also carry the surname and I was hoping I could return this to our family.

I’m new to this so I’m not sure how to post up the photo of my family crest but if you message I can send it through there.

It says Eprouvez ‘experience’ which means to keep striving/improving.

The Arms of Wynyard was granted to John Wynyard in 1579, Keeper of the Kings Robes, Sceptres and Sword and Yeoman Usher of the House of Commons. John assisted Lord Monteagle to arrest Guy Fawkes in 1605.
John's son, Sir John Wynyard, succeeded him as keeper of the Kings Robes. At about this time the Crest underwent a change and an antelope assumed the position of the Tiger Sejant but no authority has been found for this change. The crest was adopted.

 

this thread...over 4 years old......
asking to buy and sell on the Forum is against the rules......
but ..at the top right hand corner there is an INBOX where you can post a private message directly to the member @Barn Owl ........

good luck !