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Description: | Cast copper alloy pedestal / pendant seal matrix of medieval date (1250-1400). The die is broadly circular in plan with a diameter of 15.9mm. The reverse rises to a height of 22.3mm terminating in a pointed loop. The body of the matrix is a pedestal formed from six irregular tapering sides. These terminate in a triple moulded band above which a quatrefoil shaped pointed loop extends. Two incised marks - dots - are present on either side of a panel ridge; these indicate the direction of the seal face. The seal matrix weighs 6.74 grams.The die / seal face is well preserved. The central device of the seal depicts a curled sleeping animal, possibly a lion, boar or fox. The central device is well cut and detailed, it is partially covered in a green gel like substance (coloured Vaseline) by the finder to 'aid preservation'. The head of the animal is neat and a series of clear ridges are present down the back - possibly a mane of a lion or ruff of a boar. The whole design is enclosed by a single circle created from pellets which would create a rope like design in the impression. The inscription is outside this border and enclosed itself by a similar incised circle. The inscription is well cut evenly spaced and relatively neat, although slightly obscured by wear and also gel like substance. The inscription reads WAKE ME NO MAN. The initial mark is a six pointed star. In the inscription the A is barred, the E is closed, and the N is barred.The matrix is of a mid-dark green colour with an even polished patina. 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. A number of these seals are known and several have been recorded on the PAS database. The motto WAKE ME NO MAN is noted as being relatively common on seals depicting lions. This motto still survives in modern speech as "let sleeping dogs lie". See Harvey and McGuiness A Guide to British Medieval Seals 1996 who list the motto.
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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