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Description: | Medieval cast copper alloy pedestal type seal matrix with a circular face. The matrix has a central design of a squirrel crouching facing right (left on the impression) within a plain line border. The legend starts with a star and reads PREVE SV (I am private). The edges are badly chipped which has removed the upper edges of the letters and any outer border.The central pedestal type handle rises from the face in six facets, narrowing as it rises to a waist from which it expands out slightly before ending in a flat, transverse, circular loop at the top. There is a slight expansion to one side of the loop, possibly mis-casting and a circular hole 2.5mm in diameter through the loop. There is no obvious mark on the handle to indicate the orientation of the matrix face but it may have been on the damaged edge. The handle is off centre but it not clear if this is original or the result of uneven damage to the edge.The seal matrix is now 15.8mm in maximum diameter at the face by 19.7mm tall; it weighs 4.73 grams.This type of seal was popular in the 14th century and both this legend and the design of the squirrel were widely used (Harvey and MacGuiness 1996:88-9). There are many similar examples on this database including SOM-8E8248 from near Ilchester. .
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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