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Description: | A complete cast copper-alloy Medieval seal matrix, c. 1250-1400 AD. The seal matrix has a sub-circular seal face inscribed with a legend 'FAVCVN IENTIL', which means 'gentile falcon'. The central impressed decoration depicts a hawk perched on a gloved hand and arm, with the three lines below probably representing the hawk's jesses. The seal has a conical body, which may have originally been hexagonally-fluted, rising into a handle with a rounded suspension loop and circular suspension loop hole. Just below the suspension loop is a protruding oval collar. The metal is of a dark green/brown colour with some areas of red, perhaps corrosion from another object; the outer surface has a rough texture and has lost its patina. The seal matrix face measures 16.4mm diameter and 1.9mm thick; the suspension loop measures 3.3 mm in diameter. It measures 19.4 mm high overall with an overall weight of 5.21 grams.A nearly identical example has been recorded on the PAS database: ESS-7D6CA1, which is dated to c. 1250-1450 AD.
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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