|
Date: |
|
Description: | A fragment of a lead cloth seal of post-Medieval date.The piece represents approximately two thirds of a circular disc. The upper surface bears a relief-moulded central design showing a male standing left. On his lower body he wears hose, netherhose (probably) and boots. On his upper body he wears a tight jerkin with elbow-length sleeves. The male has shoulder-length wavy hair, and the facial features, although heavily corroded, are visible. His right arm is extended forward, bent upwards at 90 degrees from the elbow and in his hand he holds the jawbone of an ass. The left arm angles downwards, is bent at the elbow, the hand held behind the lower back. Both legs are slightly bent at the knee. To the bottom right of the figure is a tree. In the left field is a monogram of the initials 'IS'; in the right field is the letter 'D', the meaning of which is unclear. Around this design is lettering, bordered on both sides by a beaded line. The legend, starting at 12 o'clock, reads: '(pellet/symbol/pellet) IOHN(rosette)SAMSON [....]KEING'. The original inscription would probably have read: 'IOHN SAMSON (HIS) MAKEING', with the nature of the material (probably bay) and name of the town recorded on another disc. The object is bent and heavily corroded. It measures 48.2mm in diameter, 1.6mm thick and weighs 13.2g.Geoff Egan (pers. comm.) has identified this as an inner disc from a four-part weaver's seal. It originates from one of the textile-producing towns of north Essex/south Suffolk and dates from the late 16th to early 17th centuries (cf. Egan 1995: 27/figs. 10 and 11, nos. 18-20).The central image is an allusion to the Biblical Samson, who defeated an army using the jawbone of an ass. The same image is to be found on a token farthing of Benjamin Samson, clothier of Coggeshall, Essex (see Williamson 1967: 215, no. 85). An example (albeit worn) of this token, dated 1665, is recorded on the PAS database - see ESS-7C65B3. It is very likely that the two pieces are related.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
-
-
Essex
This map of Essex is…
-
-
-
-
-
|