Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOMDOR152
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Medieval cast copper alloy pedestal type seal matrix with a circular face. The matrix has a central design of a cockerel standing facing right (left on the impression) within a plain line border. The legend starts at 3 o'clock (9 o'clock on the impression) with a star and reads CROV M[E] DAI (CROW ME DAY, I crow at daybreak). The edges are chipped in places which has removed the upper edges of some the letters.
The central conical handle rises evenly from the face with no facets on the lower part, narrowing as it rises to a waist from which it expands out slightly before ending in a flat, tri-lobed loop at the top. The upper part of the handle and waist is hexagonal in cross-section. Between the handle and loop are two deeply incised transverse lines running the entire way around, marking off a collar between them and a slight collar between the upper line and the loop.The loop has a circular hole 2.6mm in diameter through it. There is a possible indent on the handle near the edge of the matrix opposite 12 o'clcok on the design, but this may be corrosion damage rather than an orientation mark.
The seal matrix is 16.3mm in maximum diameter at the face by 23.2mm tall; it weighs 6.08 grams.
This form of seal, with an impersonal legend and design, was popular in the 14th century (Harvey and MacGuiness 1996:88-9) and both this legend and the design of the cock is paralleled by SF-6FB704..
Class:
anonymous
Inscription:
*CROV M[E] DAI
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Length: 23.2 mm
Diameter: 16.3 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 1st January 1999
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Other reference: PAL 144, SCC receipt 16722
Primary material: Copper alloy
Decoration method: Incised
Completeness: Complete
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvey, P.D.A. and McGuinness, A. | 1996 | A Guide to British Medieval Seals | London | British Library and Public Record Office |