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Description: | A silver seal matrix of Post-Medieval date, 16th to 17th century AD. This small seal matrix has an oval face measuring 12.6mm x 10.9mm and 0.9mm thick. The design consists of a beaded border, formed from small square punches, on the inside of which is another border formed by a thin incised line. At the centre is a shield that occupies as much of the field as possible, touching the border with the top two corners of the flat top. The shield is surmounted by a small incised '4'.The shield shows the arms of the Fishmongers Company, the London livery company The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. The fishmongers' arms are described at as: "Azure three Dolphins naiant embowed in pale argent finned toothed and crowned or between two pairs of Stockfish in saltire argent over the mouth of each Fish a Crown or on a Chief gules three pairs of Keys of St Peter in saltire".On the reverse surface of the martix plate the letters P A or maybe legated AL in order to form P AL have been incised. The letters have been positioned so that the base of each letter is towards the edge of the artefact and on the reverse over the area of the top of the shield on the matrix face. A decorative shank with attachment loop at the top has been soldered onto the centre of the reverse surface of the matrix plate. This shank is of zoomorphic form either representing a bird, possibly such as an eagle, or a dragon. The wings are held back and up but not outstretched. The head droops forwards and downwards and the attachment loop is possitioned within the 'V' shape that is formed between the back of the neck and wings. The shank, loop and matrix plate give the artefact a combined height of 14.7mm. This artefact has a weight of 2.00g.Discussion: Clive Cheesman of the Richmond College of Arms has kindly identified the arms shown on this seal matrix. It is his opinion that: "I suspect the seal will have belonged to not the Company itself but a fishmonger, a freeman of the company, who did not have his own coat of arms. The "4" above the shield is probably a merchant's mark" See . Mr Cheesman goes on to speculate that the owner of this seal matrix might possibly have been a merchant adventurer as well as a fishmonger although this is uncertain.
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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