Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: SUSS-77E244
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A worn and corroded Medieval to Post Medieval cast lead alloy cloth seal. The reverse of the seal has impressed fine warp and weft markings on it indicating its original function. The front of the seal has a raised head with a prominent face, set within a beaded border. The head has an unclear form of headgear and is bearded with prominent eyes and nose, in a style reminiscent of some post-Roman and Medieval coinage. Similarly, some papal bullas show representations of St Peter and St Paul which look to have a related style. According to Egan, Leaden Cloth Seals, Finds Research Group 700-1700 datasheet 3; London seals of the early 15th century can have a crude head of St Paul design but these also have a shield; however, the generic style lasted until the mid-16th century. The flan is cracked in several places, and positioned below the chin of the face there is a flat in the otherwise circular circumference, which may be where the link to the rest of the seal joined. This example is probably from the late Medieval to early Post Medieval period.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.3 mm
Weight: 2.52 g
Diameter: 18.2 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 17th February 2011
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egan, G. | 1992 | Leaden Cloth Seals | Oxford | Finds Research Group 700 -1700 Datasheet 3 | 2 |