|
Date: |
|
Description: | Cast copper alloy pedestal type seal martix with a oval die from which rises the flattened handle in the form of a trefoil on a short stem. The upper loop of the trefoil is broken with an old break, the lower side lobes have circular indents on one side that do not go through and a circular piercing between them. The die has a carved design of a bird with outstretched wings, probably a phoenix. The die is 14.9mm by 13.6mm; it is 23.1mm tall, the handle is 15.2mm wide by 7.4mm thick; it weighs 4.64 grams. Various similar matrices, usual with complete piercings in the handle are recording on the database with a mix of figurative designs and, most commonly, initials with a combined with a design such as a tree (e.g. CPAT-10F546, BH-7A78F5 and GLO-BC88F2). They are thought to be 17th century in date. An almost identical seal matrix was published by B Read (1995: 152, no.1028) with a similar bird design and similar handle (although on that example one of the side indents has been fettled to make a hole); that example was found in Devon and identified as 17th century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
|