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Description: | Medieval flat circular lead-alloy seal matrix. The face has an elaborate flower in the centre with a fluer de lis top flanked by pellets at the top of a vertical stem, fleur de lis to each side of the stem and a trefoil at the base, all within a plain line border. The inscription encircles the design within another, outer plain line border and reads + SIGILL' I[O]'HIS DE HORNTOV', Seal of John of Horntou' (contracted). There is a small projecting lug on, and slightly thicker than, the rim opposite the cross at the start of the legend. The back is plain. It is slightly bent in profile from damage with two dents in the rim. It is 35.9mm in diameter, 39.5mm long, 5.1mm thick including the lug; it weighs 24.64 grams.The large size, simple central design and use of a personal inscription all suggests a late 12th to early 13th century date (Harvey and McGuiness 1996: 79). Given the findspot the contracted placename Horntou' may indicate Horrington. Reginald of Horrington sold the knights fee of Horrington in 1226-7 so any John de Horrington would preceed this date.
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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