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Description: | Cast copper alloy pedestal / pendant seal matrix of medieval date (1250-1400). The die is roughly circular in plan with a diameter of 19.8mm. The reverse rises to a height of 24.8mm terminating in a triangular perforated loop. The body of the matrix is a pedestal formed from seven tapering sides. This terminates in a series of molded bands and the loop. The seal matrix weighs 7.33 grams. The die depicts a hare riding an animal, probably a dog, bareback. The dog and the hare are facing / advancing right. The hare is sat upright astride the midriff of the dog with its ears flattened backwards behind it. The hare may be playing some form of flute or recorder as it is holding a long thin object to its mouth. The dog is less detailed than the hare hence the ambiguity of interpretation. It has a well formed face and a small tail. The central design is enclosed within a circular motif created from a series of small incised circles. This would create a circular beaded boarder of small sub-oval pellets in the seal impression. Around the edge of the die, outside the beaded boarder is an inscription. This has been damaged by abrasion but probably reads: + S O D O V R(?)O B A/I(?) N (a crescent?) A(?). The N is reverse barred. The inscription does not form a common pattern of either a name and place or family name; also it does not show a religious or a vernacular phrase or saying. The initial S probably is a contraction of the word sigil (or seal). The name ROBIN can also be formed from the string of letters. It is likely that this seal represents the work of an illiterate or semi-literate craftsman and was used by a similar semi-literate person. This might explain the elaborate central motif as this would be highly individual and recognisable. The matrix is of a mid green colour with an even but slightly abraded patina. There are also areas of light green active powdery corrosion present - mostly on the body of the seal. The edge of the die has suffered from abrasion and chipping caused by movement in the plough soil. This has also resulted in damage to the loop of the matrix. From the seal matrixes size and the image it depicts, it was most likely to represent a private personal seal. This type of seal is dated to the late thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, 1250-1400. Similar parallels can be seen in Salisbury Medieval Catalogue (Part 1) pages 27-39. Seal 21 (pages 33 and 37) in this catalogue depicts a monkey riding a dog, which is a very close parallel to this example. It is dated to the early 14th Century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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