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Description: | Medieval copper alloy seal matrix. The matrix is pointed oval (vesica) shaped, cast with chip carved design. It is 41.5mm long, 25.9mm wide, 3.6mm thick excluding the lug and weighs 20.44 grams.The back is flat with a projecting lug at the upper end pierced by a drilled hole; the lug is 10.4mm long, 5.4mm wide and 3.3mm thick. From the base of the lug extends some cast decoration, 17.9mm long by 14.0mm wide. The design is raised within a recessed area and consists of a central straight stem probably topped by a flower flanked by two side stems that split at the tip into two curled over leaves, the lower leaves are joined to the base by a further line. The design is shallow and not all of it has come out clearly in the casting or on the photograph.The front is decorated with a central design of an ogee (S-shaped) curve each end terminating with three leaves within a pointed oval outline. The legend is enclosed within an outer line and starts with an eight pointed star. It reads: S'.X'(I)ANE:FIL':IOh'E (N retrograde and I suspended over the X). This is a contraction of: Sigillum Christiane filie Iohanne, which translates as Seal of Christiane daughter of Iohanne. She may have been named as the daughter of her mother because she was illegitimate or because her mother was more important than her father, perhaps of higher rank by birth. Seals naming people as 'child of' are usually early, perhaps late 12th or 13th century in date. The quality of the manufacture and lettering suggests this was made by an expert rather than locally.
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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