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Description: | A Medieval cast lead seal matrix, early 13th century. It is of 'pointed oval' type with a perforated lug on the reverse. The legend reads in Lombardic lettering '+:S'[K]ATERIH:KNO?PT:' and the design is of two joined petals. The matrix measures 35mm long by 21mm wide by 9mm thick. It has not been possible to locate a close parallel for this seal design. It appears to be a variant of the limited range of fleur-de-lis or cross-like designs used on personal seals of this period. The original owner of the seal was probably a woman named Katherine Knope. Knope is a variant spelling of Knape, which is a surname derived from the Old English word cnapa meaning youth or servant. As Knope or Knoppe it is found in Mount Bures parish including a Katherine Knope whose will was proved in 1548. As Knape or Knapp it is recorded for Lawford, Dedham and Great Bentley in the sixteenth century (Emmerson, F. G. 1958. Wills at Chelmsford vol. 1 (1400-1619), page 247-248., and Reaney, P.H. 1958. A Dictionary of British Surnames). Interestingly a comparable seal belonged to another woman - Alicia Jernihas of Bury St. Edmunds, dated c.1260. This is of a similar material, size and shape to this seal matrix and has a design of 'a long leafy cross with three pellets in the angles' (Nelson, P. 1936. Some British Medieval Seal-Matrices, Archaeological Journal XCIII, part 2, 13-44).
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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