Objects of Substance - School_Seal

Affixing the seal represents the formal deed of a corporate body and therefore it is bound-up in honour. The pressing of the paper ensures authenticity and denotes authority. Technically, this practice is not legally required today; however, organisations may still choose to mark papers in this manner. This relatively simple act reflects who we are, what we represent, and how we wish to be recognised. Coming together as a unified body and continuing traditions matter to us. Immediate past Chair of the Board of Trustees, Elizabeth Jameson (Head Girl, 1982) commented on the seal: ‘Oh yes, we used it alright. Rachel Fraser (1988), [previous Chief Financial Officer], and I used to admire this extraordinary object. We used it in my time... I feel mainly when we did things like bought Bread House… It is magnificent... I’m not sure if any of the other Grammar Schools still have theirs… In fact, in 30 years and squillions of boards, I never came across another organisation who had one, yet they all must have at one time’ (4.12.2023).

Lever Stamping Presses, Exhibited 1855 (Paris), Waterlow & Sons, London.

In the School Seal Policy, Section 3 (b) clearly states that ‘The Seal may only be affixed:

• to Relevant Documents in pursuance of a resolution of the Board; • by the Secretary to the Board, in the presence of the Chair.’

In addition, a register is kept recording the use of the Seal and the documents to which it is affixed.

The branch of study that deals with ‘wax, lead, clay, and other seals used to authenticate archival documents’ is known as sigillography or, from the Greek, sphragistics. The tradition of marking written communication with impressions and, particularly with wax, became a popular Western convention throughout the tenth century; the primary aim being authentication. Author Hilary Jenkinson asserts: it was during the medieval era that the act of writing was carried out by professionals, namely clerks; royalty and aristocracy did not do it themselves. The rate of illiteracy was high; therefore, seals came in very useful. Conversely, as the rate of reading and writing increased centuries later, the utilisation of seals thus declined. The Corporate Seal is currently located in Personal Assistant to the Board Secretary, Kirsti Moyle’s (1992) office in the Main Building, which coincidently, was completed the same year as the seal: 1884. As was the contemporary practice, the seal was carefully hand-painted with exquisite gold