Rights Holder: I. Szymanski
CC License:
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Unique ID: IHS-8F47A4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Copper alloy circular seal matrix, plain flat back with slight raised midrib suspension loop intact at top. Device of a knight on horseback, sword in raised right hand, looking (?) back over his shoulder. He appears to be wearing a rather short mail hauberk, a fully developed 'great helm' and carrying a tapered 'knightly sword' (hilt indistinct). He wears a long surcoat but his horse is unadorned. There is some sort of cuff indicated on the sword hand. The whole is placed above a fleur-de-lys, with what appears to be a crescent between the sword arm and the horse's raised tail. Device is separated from the legend by a line; a similar line marks the outer edge of the matrix face. Measurements: 30 mm diameter.
Notes:
Equestrian seals are common from the twelfth century and earlier, as they were a favoured device of magnates; such seals often showed the magnate himself on horseback, armed and holding a shield which bore his arms. Depending on the date, the horse's trapper may also be adorned with the same arms; several examples are to be found in the seals attached to the Barons' letter of 1301, where the counterseal generally consisted of a shield bearing the coat of arms (de Walden, esp. pp. xxvi-xxx).
However, this matrix is not a magnate's seal, but that of a lesser knight. Although the basic form is the same, the matrix is smaller and simpler in design. Unlike the seals of men such as the earls of Warwick or Lancaster on the Barons' letter, the knight on this matrix does not display his arms on his shield, nor is there any sign of a crest on his helm, meaning that identification must rely on the style of his armour and the legend. The armour is reasonably clear, although the legs and hand are rather blurred, the latter meaning that it is difficult to tell whether the knight is wearing some form of mitten or gauntlet. A cuff or edge of some description appears to be present, suggesting that his hand is bare and this detail, combined with what is clearly visible of his apparel, suggests a date of 1240-1300. A figure of a comparable knight from Lower Saxony is displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of New York (no 64.101.1492, visible on their web site at http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/view1.asp?dep=17&item=64.101.1492.
Legend legible, but place name is not obvious. Bearing in mind that the piece was found close to a major mediaeval port (Sandwich),it may not have belonged to an individual local to the area, or even the country. If he was, perhaps Poyle, Oxfordshire or Pebmarsh in Essex? Reason for extra "M" after Steven also not obvious. For an example of such a knight, see http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/view1.asp?dep=17&item=64.101.1492
Class:
personal
Sub class: man
Inscription:
+STEVENMjDEPOVENGIS (The seal of Steven of P...........)
Current location of find: Returned to finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1240
Date to: AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Diameter: 30 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 7th January 2004
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Other reference: Originally York Sealmat 250
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
de Walden, H. | 1903 | Some Feudal Lords and their Seals | Bristol | Cr |