Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: HESH-CB30F5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Cast copper alloy pedestal / pendant seal matrix of medieval date (1250-1400). The die is roughly circular in plan with a diameter of 18.8mm. The reverse rises to a height of 24.3mm terminating in a triangular perforated loop. The body of the matrix is a pedestal formed from six tapering sides. This terminates in a series of molded bands and the loop. The seal matrix weighs 9.65 grams.
The die depicts two figures - a woman holding a small child / baby - Virgin and Child. The female / Virgin is depicted rather crudely with the style of dress being formed by incised crescent shapes. These indicate a dress which has a long skirt and a bodice that is wound over the shoulder. The face and head dress are also relatively crude and much of the detail of the face is lost. The child is depicted out of proportion to the left of the standing virgin supported by a single hand. It is shown wearing swaddling / wrapped in cloth. This is created with similar shaped crescents to the dress of the virgin. The two figures are linked near the head by a single dish shaped inverted crescent. This design is surrounded by a border created from a series of small incised circles. This would create a circular beaded border of small sub-oval pellets in the seal impression. The border is broken at the base where they figure of the Virgin projects to the base of the die. Around the edge of the die, outside the beaded border is an inscription. This has been damaged by abrasion but probably reads: *ADEMA MIARE. The A is unbarred and the E is closed. Many of the letters are ill formed or badly executed. It is possible that the inscription could also be read as MIARE *ADEMA. It is possible that the legend might be an attempt at a religious phrase that includes the name Maria (Mary). Other common religious phases include AVE MARIA GRACIA 'Hail Mary, [full of] grace' or MARIA MATER ORE MRIME, meaning 'Maria mother pray for me.' It is possible that this seal represents the work of an illiterate or semi-literate craftsman and was used by a similar semi-literate person. This might explain the central motif as this would be individual and recognisable.
The matrix is of a mid - dark green colour with an even but slightly abraded patina. The edge of the die has suffered from abrasion and chipping caused by movement in the plough soil. This has also resulted in damage to the loop of the matrix. From the seal matrixes size and the image it depicts, it was most likely to represent a private personal seal. This type of seal is dated to the late thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, 1250-1400. Similar parallels can be seen in Salisbury Medieval Catalogue (Part 1) pages 27-39.
Inscription:
*ADEMA MIARE or MIARE *ADEMA
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1250
Date to: AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Length: 24.3 mm
Weight: 9.65 g
Diameter: 18.8 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st January 2005
This information is restricted for your access level.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saunders, P. | 1991 | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue: Part 1 | Salisbury | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum | 27-39 |