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Description: | A Post-Medieval silver seal matrix. The matrix is of a pedestal type with an oval face and a decorative openwork handle; much of the handle is broken away. The design on the face depicts a coat of arms with a crest above a shield and mantling on either side. The shield shows a chevron charged with three mullets between three martlets in the field, two above and one below;a further, very small, martlet can just be seen in the field below, between the lower bird and the chevron. The crest is in the form of an arm with a clenched fist holding a weapon.Discussion: Though worn and difficult to make out, it is possible that the arms represent those of the Madeston family, described in Burke's General Armory as 'Argent on a chevron between three martlets sable as many mullets or. Crest - A cubit arm erect in armour per pale crenellée or and argent holding in the gauntlet a halbert headed and garnished of the last.' (pg. 684) The smaller bird below the chevron could be a mark of cadency, indicating these were the arms of the fourth born.Clive Cheesman adds "The arms and crest are similar to those used either as a paternal coat or as a quartering by Lincolnshire families of the name of Madison or Maddison, as for instance granted by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux, to Edmund Madison of Fonaby 1587, and allowed to Sir Lionel Maddison of Newcastle in 1635 (Grantees of Arms ed. J. Foster, London 1915, p. 167). For the families see A. R. Maddison, Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol. 2 (London 1903) pp. 619-29. The small martlet below the chevron presumably indicates a fourth son."Dimensions: The oval face is 17.9mm long, and 15.4mm wide. The matrix is 13.3mm high and weighs 7.26g.
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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