Rights Holder: Cambridgeshire County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: CAM-CAF337
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A lead-alloy (or copper-alloy) seal matrix of Medieval, 14th century AD, date. This matrix is Vesica-shaped (pointed oval shaped), flat and appears to have an incomplete suspension loop at the base of the matrix in the same plane, rather than a suspension loop being positioned on the back of the matrix. At the centre of the matrix is a single design, described in Read, B. 2001 as a fleur-de-lis. This symbol is relatively common, particularly but not exclusively in association with female themes. This is due to the fleur-de-lys some times being associated with the Virgin Mary.
Weight is 11.47g, incomplete length is 31.57mm, width is 22.40mm, thickness is 3.03mm.
"The legend reads: + S' AGNES FIL' ALIS. The S' is an abbreviation of the Latin word 'Sigillum' meaning seal or seal of. Following the first mentioned name Agnes is a letter that possibly looks like a P but this letter is more likely to be an F with serifs followed by the letters I L, the L being followed by an abbreviation mark. This Fil' would read in full 'filiae'. Filia is daughter, filiae is genitive case 'of - daughter'. The last name is a bit more difficult to read but seems to start with A and the last letter is S although it could also be read as E with exaggerated serifs. The middle letter is fainter and a bit damaged, but is probably an L and I run together giving ALIS, which we would spell as Alice today, as the final name. Translated the legend reads: + Seal of Agnes daughter of Alis (Alice?)". Carolyn Wingfield (Saffron Walden Museum, Essex).
The final letter of Agnes is damaged and could alternatively be a T with curled stem (from the Latin form 'Agnetis'. use of a matronymic (referring to the seal owner's mother) is noteworthy.
Notes:
Recorded at the East Cambs. Metal Detecting Association on 25/02/2013.
Class:
personal
Sub class: woman
Inscription:
+ S' AGNES FIL' ALIS.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Length: 31.57 mm
Width: 22.4 mm
Thickness: 3.03 mm
Weight: 11.47 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st August 2011 - Monday 31st October 2011
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Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.