Carved Ballantyne Coat of Arms

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Carved Ballantyne Coat of Arms

About the Item

Carved out of teak, this plaque shows the Coat of Arms of the Ballantyne family with the two angels flanking the armourial shield only used by the Sanquhar side of the family. Intriguingly they have oriental faces, betraying the origin of the carver. Added to the angels, the lotus flower to the bottom scroll is also stylistically Chinese. The scroll to the top gives the Ballantyne motto Nec Cito Nec (Ta)Rde, meaning Neither Fast Nor Slow. The motto to the bottom of the plaque, Murus Aheneus, is from the Macleod family and translates as Be Thou A Wall Of Brass. The shield is quartered and shows a triple towered castle (also used by the Macleods) in two quarters with a cheveron with 3 mullets (stars) in the other two. The carving offers further intrigue in that the third mullet has been missed from one quarter and the first two letter of Tarde are missing from the motto. Added to this, the whole armourial, including the griffin with erect sword crest, are shown in reverse. Presumably this was a mistake in the execution with the design traced back to front. This might also tie in with a Chinese hand that may have been unaware of the significance of such matters. As yet no strong link between the Ballantine’s of Sanquhar and the East has been unearthed. There was a Colonel Ballantine of the Bombay Infantry in 1830. There was also a George Ballantyne who Captained The Pigot, an East Indiaman in the 1790’s and a James Robert Ballantyne who studied at the East India College, Haileybury. He was an orientalist and went on to become Principal of Government College, Benares in 1845. The connection between the Scots and the East India Company was strong and it is probable there were other Ballantyne’s in their employ. It may have been that this plaque was commissioned when one was passing through the Chinese ports on to India or even carved by a Chinese hand in India. It is also possible that the family had a private trading interest in the East and this plaque adorned a factory or residence. Early 19th century.

Dimensions:
Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 14.75 in (37.47 cm)Depth: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Teak,Carved
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c. 1830
Condition:
Seller Location:
Gloucestershire, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 809921stDibs: LU9587989962