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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy seal matrix of Medieval date (about 1200-1500). The matrix face is circular and the conical handle has six facets. The terminal of the handle is a suspension loop, but this has been broken; only a stub remains were the loop was. There is a thick collar between the loop and the shaft. The edges of the face are worn and broken which unfortunately makes most of the legend illegible. The following letters in the legend can be made out: "WILL DE(O)[-](CIS)[---](DCA)[-]" so it was probably a personal seal of William (Surname missing). The design is of a stylised tree with a squirrel sitting on the top. Squirrels were clearly a popular element of 14th century seal matrices, and many examples with various inscriptions are recorded on the PAS database. Often the inscription is a stock one: I CRACK NOTIS (Nuts) and is part of the tradition of bawdy puns on seal matrices. See NARC-EABB91 for more details. This example has a personal legend though. The squirrel may relate to the person's name, or may be a stock design to which a personal inscription was added. Also compare NARC-F18D77, WMID-C84368, and NARC-6036B1. Length: 13.15mm; Diameter: 19.03mm; Weight: 7.58g
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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