SEAL MATRIX

Incomplete medieval lead alloy pointed oval (vesica shaped) seal matrix. About 30% of the matrix is missing to a break down one side. It is not clear if this is later damage or the result of someone deliberately breaking the matrix to cancel it. On the front there is a central incuse design of an axe with upright handle, faint stratching at the bottom may be markings representing a hand or arm holding the base of the axe handle. There is a plain line border around the design then the inscription reading *[...]A[...]I . DODE within an outer plain line border. On the flat back there is a raised rib running down the centre with a thicker and wider lug at the top, opposite the top of the legend. This lug is only slightly more prominent than the rib and appears damaged, it may previously have been more prominent and even pierced. It is now 32.2mm long, 16.5mm wide, 3.0mm thick excluding the lug 5.3mm including. It weighs 11.24 g.

This appears to be a personal inscription for someone with the surname Dode (see WILT-7EB1B4 for a seal of a different person with the same surname). The style of the matrix, pointed oval with a simple design and personal inscription, suggests a thirteenth century date (Harvey and McGuiness 1996:80). The axe is a relatively popular motif; sometimes it may relate to someone's trade, as a butcher (Harvey and McGuiness ibid:80-81) or a farmer (IHS-FCC985).