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Description: | An almost-complete copper-alloy pedestal seal matrix of 17th-century date. The die is just oval (15.15 x c. 17mm). At the centre of the oval is a circular recess with circular and triangular punches forming a crude human mask, with short mouth, wide nose, large eyes and dots forming a brow or hair. The face is surrounded by radiating V-shaped punches (points outwards) and the effect is that of a sun with a face within. This is all enclosed within an outer grooved border.The handle which extends upwards from the back of the die narrows sharply to a thin stem, rectangular in cross section, at the centre of the oval. The stem then flares to form a flattened oval shape with three circular perforations across its width. Above the perforations the handle terminated in a suspension loop. This loop may have been circular, but it is now broken with around half of the original circumference missing. The broken ends are worn and the longest is now slightly bent over.The seal matrix is 23.85mm in length, 15.15mm wide and weighs 4.15 grams.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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