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Description: | A cast copper-alloy seal matrix of Medieval date. It is pointed oval shaped in form, trapezoidal in section, with an integrally cast suspension lug on the back face that has a small oval shaped loop with circular aperture at the top and a tapering triangular ridge running down the centre of the back face. The die carries a central motif depicting a robed figure, probably a cleric, standing on a bracket with trilobed motif below, head turned to face left. The figure has one hand against the side of his face or resting on his chin, the other hand supporting the base of the elbow. This is all depicted within an inner border of pellets, although the bracket and trilobed motif extend to the outer edge of the matrix. The surrounding legend reads +S'hENRICI.D' GRAnTCVRT, a personal seal of Henry Grantcourt or Grandcourt. It measures 29.36mm in length, 18.90mm in width, 8.11mm in thickness (including suspension loop; 3.57mm excluding loop), and 10.03g in weight.This is a personal seal of Medieval date for the individual named on the matrix. Personal seals of this kind are typical of the 13th century AD (see Harvey and McGuinness, 1996: pp. 79-80) and Edward Martin (pers comm. SCCAS) notes that the current example may date to c.1300 AD. He further adds that the Grandcourt family are a known family in Norfolk and Suffolk and the imagery on the seal might indicate that Henry was a member of the clergy or held a similar position. Although references to Henry himself that might provide a closer date range for the object have not yet been identified a clergyman named Fulke Grandcourt is noted in a nearby parish in the late-1200s and may belong to the same family, which might support the probable late-13th century date for the current seal matrix.
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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