|
Date: |
|
Description: | A complete copper pedestal / pendant alloy seal matrix, of Medieval dating (AD 1250 to AD 1400).The body of the matrix consists of a pedestal, created from a six sided tapering column. These terminate in a trefoil knop, with a circular suspension hole in the middle. The suspension loop is complete, and has an internal diameter of 2.5 mm. An engraved six pointed star is present as an orientation mark, and is located at 12 o'clock on the die. The handle is flat and is orientated vertically, in line with the orientation mark.The die or seal face is sub circular in plan, with a diameter of 22.5 mm.The die / seal face is complete. The die is crudely cut. The central device consists of an incomplete plain sub circular border. The legend starts at 2 o'clock, and continuesclockwise, terminating in a six pointed star or mullet. The letters are unclear but it is possible to read TER[ ]DEI[ ]hES. The device consists of a shield with the Agnes Dei facing right (Holy lamb of God), under a banner, with a star on in the top right hand corner of the shield.The seal matrix is 27.6 mm in height, has a maximum diameter of 22.5 mm. The top of the handle is 12.1 mm wide and 3.8 mm thick. It weighs 17.0 g.The seal matrix is a dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of some of the original surface detail.Seals with the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and this inscription were quite common in the fourteenth century. The 1330s were probably the most popular time for this seal. Seal matrices are objects of metal or bone carved in taglio in order to stamp an impression on wax in order to authenticate douments (Cherry, 1991, pages 29, 32 & 36, ref no 13).Five other seal matrices have been recorded on the PAS database, with the Agnes Dei as the central device. These are all vesica (pointed oval) type matrices, as opposed to this pendant / pedestal version. These records are: WMID-227327; HESH-0B8B35; SWYOR-C76613;NARC-281800 and LEIC-F97511.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
SEAL
A complete cast copper alloy…
|