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Description: | A post medieval two part lead alloy cloth seal. It consists of a disc of lead alloy with a central circular perforation. This is attached to one end of rectangular sectioned strip of lead alloy which is bent around to form a loop. The other end of the strip is attached a solid disc of lead alloy which has a raised circular rivet of lead alloy on the inner face. The object was cast as one piece and then folded with the two discs pushed together so that the raised rivet on one disc fits though the central perforation on the other disc.The face of the solid disc appears undecorated. The other face has been stamped with a monogram that appears to show the letter B above an ornate A, all within a circular frame. The face has been stamped off centre. Stamping has squashed down the rivet so much that is appears from the side as another layer of lead alloy on top of disc.The seal appears to be complete. It has been squashed flat in burial so the loop is no longer open. On the stamped side, there is a small amount of damage/loss of surface that has occurred to the top left edge of the disc. It measures 19.97mm in diameter and 3.59mm thick. Total length including the loop is 26.90mm. It weighs 7.98g.Stamped lead seals such as this were attached to individual cloths as part of the system of regulation and quality control. They were widely used in the England from the late fourteenth to the early nineteenth century. The most similar example published by Egan (1994) is number 209, page 79 and Fig 30 page181. That example shows the letter RB over A. It falls into the very common category of clothiers, weavers and searchers personal seals.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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SEAL
A four-disc lead cloth seal…
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