14th-15th century AD. A silver heater-shaped escutcheon or pendant seal with incised heraldic design; the arms quarterly, one and four a fess between three leopards' heads, two and three per fess a lion rampant; the upper edge of the escutcheon thickened. 4.36 grams, 30mm (1 1/4"). Ex TimeLine Auctions 2 December 2011, Lot 804; formerly in the Hare collection, Lincolnshire, UK. The 1st and 4th arms (fess between leopards' heads) represent the de la Pole family who were prominent from the 14th century. Michael de la Pole, the first baron of the name was later 1st Earl of Suffolk (c. 1330 - 1389) and Lord Chancellor of England. The quartered arms are associated with Edmund [de la Pole], 6th Earl of Suffolk (formerly 3rd Duke of Suffolk), Knight of the Garter, who was born in 1471-72 and by 1496 had married Margaret Scrope (d. Feb 1514/5), the sixth daughter of Sir Richard Scrope of Upsall, Yorkshire and his wife Eleanor Washbourne, and their second son Henry Scrope, 4th Baron Scrope of Bolton. His daughter was Lady Anne de la Pole, who became a nun. Edmund was a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of his uncle, King Richard III in 1483. He was present at the siege of Boulogne in 1492 and succeeded his father between 29 Oct 1491 and 27 Oct 1492 as third Duke of Suffolk. Edmund agreed with King Henry VII to surrender the Dukedom and Marquessate of Suffolk and to be known henceforth as Earl of Suffolk, which was ratified by Act of Parliament 1495. He was a leader in the struggle against the Cornish rebels at Blackheath 1497. He was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1499 and, with his brother Richard, left England without permission in 1501. He illicitly assumed the title of Duke of Suffolk and the style of White Rose whereby he was declared an outlaw in 1502 and all his honours were forfeited. He was in Aix, France, between 1502 and 1504, imprisoned by the Duke of Gueldres from 1504 to1505 and by the Archduke Philip 1505-06. He surrendered to King Henry VII and was committed to the Tower of London in 1506. After 7 years in the Tower of London, he was beheaded without trial.

Fine condition, small tear to point. Excessively rare.