‘Pair’d But Not Matched’ was a fairly commonly used comical phrase used in Georgian and Victorian England. Often accompanied with a visual of a chap wearing mismatched shoes….but in the case of this seal we have an unmatching pair of limbs, being the regular boot- clad leg and the other , a peg leg.

The phrase itself is intended as a tongue in cheek reference to a coupling or romantic relationship. You are in a committed couple so you are said to be ‘Pair’d’. However the union is not one of two equals. Either the couple have very different outlooks on life, different values, different hobbies, differing humour or, worse still, one one of the couple is essentially considered vastly superior to the other.

So, you may, if you were so-minded say that you and your significant other were ‘Pair’d but not matched’ and be making light of your differences or darker still, be making a joke around the notion that your partner is above or beneath you. Ooooh, ouchie!

Emma thinks this seal works best for honouring a partnership formed of two very different characters, that works beautifully despite the apparent contrast, those wonderful cases of when opposites attract!