Arms of Maryland

The  Maryland Seal and Coat of Arms of 1794 was designed by Charles Willson Peale, and is a double sided seal intended as  a wax pendant not  an embossing seal. The engraving seen here combines elements of  images found on the front and the reverse of Peale's design.  The main figure is  a woman holding the scales of justice,  to her proper left and behind  is  a sailing ship, tobacco leaves atop a hogshead (barrel), and a cornucopia, which represent Maryland agriculture and trade. On a ribbon beneath is the motto Industry the Means, Plenty the Result.  The two sided Great Seal was in use from 1794 to 1817, when  a new single-sided Great Seal was adopted.

The detail of the State Arms is taken from a large facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, published by John Binns, in a design registered in 1818 and printed in 1819. Encircling the text of the Declaration is a ceremonial chain with medallions bearing portraits of Founding Fathers and the arms of each state.  Binns hoped to distribute 200 copies of the design and it seems that at least one made it to England where, between 1826 and 1830, Thomas Mayer, potter of Stoke-upon Trent, used it to produce a series of designs. It is believed that he used 12 of original 13  states’ coats of arms as New Hampshire has never been seen in this series of pottery prints.

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Potter: Thomas Mayer

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