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Description: | Medieval cast copper alloy pedestal type seal matrix with a circular face and unusually well carved detail. The matrix has a central design of a mans and womens head, facing three quarters in towards each other with the faces, hair and necks finely moulded and lips emphasised. The design is within a pellet line border. Around the inner border is the legend, starting at 12 o'clock with a star initial mark and reading BAISE : MOI En EBOnE FOY. There is a second pellet line border around the legend at the outer edge of the matrix, now lost in places to samage at the edge.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. The collar starts with a narrow, slight raised ring, then a more pronounced, broader ring then a second, broader but less prominent ring. Above the collar the handle ends in a flat, transverse loop with a probably circular hole drilled through it. Most of the loop is missing to an old break with just the start of each side remaining. Four indented dots are arranged in a lozenge on the handle, adjacent to the lower edge, at a position corresponding to 12 o'clock on the matrix design, to allow the seal to be orinetated correctly when stamping down.The seal matrix is now 19.3mm in diameter at the face by 15.3mm tall; it weighs 6.45 grams.The legend can probably be translated into modern french as baise moi en foi abonie, Kiss me in increased faith. Ebonir and enbonir being known Medieval varients of abonier meaning to make well disposed, to accept or to win over. Alternatively the E at the start of EBOnE can be seen simply as a mistake and the end translated as bonne foi, good faith, a construction known on other matrices, for example in the legend GREET MOI EN BONE FOY (Harvey and Macguiness 1996:115).Pedestal seal matrices with small dies and impersonal, often romantic legends (termed love and loyalty seals), became increasingly popular at the end of the 13th century (Harvey and Macguiness ibid:88-90,) suggesting a date of c.1300-1400 for this example.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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