The State Hermitage collection of seals totals about 2 thousand monuments, containing Russian and Western European seals (matrices and imprints). The collection exhibits are not merely of scholarly interest, but they are also remarkable for the superb artistry of the jewellers, lapidaries and smiths that made them.
A special group is formed by the leaden bulls of the Roman Popes of the 13th to the 18th century and the Doges of Venice of the 14th to the 18th century.
The Russian part of the collection is represented by seal matrices dating from the 17th-20th centuries. A considerable role in the section is played by Russian personal seals, both those made of metal and carved of stone, in the form of rings, pendants and table decorations, in silver and gold settings. The collection contains seals that once belonged to politicians, public figures and statesmen, as well as to private individuals.
A special place in the heraldry collection belongs to paintings on heraldry subjects. Of considerable interest are handmade household articles with representations of family crests – such as embroidered fireplace screens, pillows and wall decorations.
The collection is complemented by bookplates bearing coat-of arms, drawings and other heraldry materials.
