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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 robed figure kneeling facing right with slightly bent head, possibly veiled. The figure probably holds an item in their left hand and points towards it with their right or holds both hands up in adoration of an unclear item to right. The item is possibly a basket or scales or even small animal. The design is within a plain line border from the inner side of which projects open triangles, creating a second border around the figure, broken by their legs. Around the entire inner design is the legend, starting at 1'clock on the matrix, 11 o'clock on the impression with a star initial mark and reading IE SV SEL GROVNT E LEL. There is a second plain line border around the legend.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 to a collar. Above the collar the handle ends in a flat, transverse, pointed oval loop at the top. There is a circular hole 2.1mm in diameter through the loop. There is no obvious mark on the handle to indicate the orientation of the matrix face but the entire top surface and loop are very worn.The seal matrix is 19.7mm in diameter at the face by 19.1mm tall; it weighs 6.75 grams.Most of the legend is easily paralleled by other examples with a range of variations on a theme, (for example YORYM-2324B4, NMS-6061B5 and SF9779 on this database and Harvey and MacGuiness 1996:89). IE SV SEL ___ E LEL can be translated as I am the seal ___ and loyal. The word grount is however hard to parallel or translate. R. Webley (pers com 22/12/14) has suggested the 'grount' may be a a poor transcribing "of the word 'grand' as when 'd's are elided into vowels in spoken French they take on a 't' sound. Perhaps more in the 'great' sense of the word, rather than the more common 'big'."Seals with personal names became less popular towards the end of the 13th century and many generic or anonymous seals were produced, of which this is one. (Harvey and MacGuiness 1996:88-9). Kneeling figures are more commonly show preying to a saint or other figure but some are known individually as on BERK-E4A686 and WAW-66B532 on this dataabse.
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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