Antique Seal of Horse in Carnelian buy - Victorian Grand Tour Antique not Ancient- Exceptional!!!

A beautiful example of a classical seal with a horse, done in the Classical style but I believe no earlier than the late Medieval/Victorian. One of a collection I acquired out of England recently, and I believe originally acquired during the time of the Grand Tour. The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper class European young men of sufficient means and rank (or those of more humble origin who could find a sponsor), as well as young women if they were also of sufficient means, and accompanied by a chaperon, such as other family members, when they had come of age (about the age of 21 years old). The custom flourished from about 1660, until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations, and from the second half of the 18th century, by some South and North Americans. The tradition declined with the lapse of neo-classical enthusiasm and after rail and steamship travel made the journeys much easier when Thomas Cook made the "Cook's Tour" of early mass tourism a byword. Three hundred years ago, wealthy young Englishmen began taking a post-Oxbridge trek through France and Italy in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilization. With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months (or years) to roam, they commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent. The primary value of the Grand Tour, it was believed, lay in the exposure both to the cultural legacy of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A Grand Tour could last from several months to several years. It was commonly undertaken in the company of a Cicerone, a knowledgeable guide or tutor. The Grand Tour had more than superficial cultural importance; as E. P. Thompson stated, "ruling-class control in the 18th century was located primarily in a cultural hegemony, and only secondarily in an expression of economic or physical (military) power." The legacy of the Grand Tour lives on to the modern day and is still evident in works of travel and literature. From its aristocratic origins and the permutations of sentimental and romantic travel to the age of tourism and globalization, the Grand Tour still influences the destinations tourists choose and shapes the ideas of culture and sophistication that surround the act of travel. The most common materials traditionally used in making seals are various forms of quartz (Chalcedony, Carnelian, Agate, Jasper, Rock Crystal), rarer materials are bronze and hematite, very rare are e.g. lapis lazuli and garnet. The motifs were influenced by religious and mythological buy conceptions and also by ancient Oriental and Greek influences. The most common groups of animal motifs are Zebus, antelopes, ibexes, rams, hares, lions, fishes, various kinds of birds. Monograms were also common. This seal, as with all my listings are sold with a Certificate of Authenticity and lifetime money-back guarantee; so buy with confidence. This is an easily visible stone seal depicting a standing horse and about 5/8 inch across. Great to use in ring or pendant.