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Description: | Copper alloy medieval seal matrix with circular face and hexagonal faceted handle dating to 13th-14th century. The handle is broken off at the top so that the loop no longer survives. The central motif on the seal is a stag with a cross between its antlers; this is the mark of St. Hubert??s stag ?? who was widely venerated in the medieval period as the patron Saint of hunters (it is more common to see just the head of the stag on seals). The legend is impersonal and the visible letters appear to read: IE SV SEL (the last few letters are too damaged to make out). A similar example to this seal can be seen in ??Craft, Industry and everyday life: Finds from Medieval York?? by Ottaway & Rogers, No.14486 which depicts a stag as the central motif and a legend that reads: ??..[E]SV SEL????; it is suggested that the full legend could be IESV SELE PREVE. The legend on the seal could therefore be similar to this and literally translates as ??I am seal private?? in other words ??private??.
The matrix weighs 5.1g and measures 16.86mm in diameter across the face and 9.4mm in height (length). | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Marshall, Anna - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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