Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
CLOTH SEAL
Unique ID: HESH-EB6360
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete cast lead or lead alloy two part cloth seal of probable post medieval date (1500-1800 AD). The seal comprises two discs conjoined by a central rivet and a folded linking strip. The cloth seal is broadly circular in plan but distorted by movement in section and profile. In general both sides of the seal are worn and abraded. Only one face has a stamped / impressed design present; this shows two initials separated by a central element within a circlet of pellets. Depending on which way round the object is viewed it is either:
W I separated with a long cross the tail of which is forked at the base (one fork is better preserved and curved)
Or
I M separated by a crozier with a cross bar beneath the letters.
The cloth seal is a mid matt grey colour with an even but abraded patina that covers all surfaces. Cloth seals were used to mark cloth from the 14th - 18th centuries. The use of initials here is most likely to represent a privy mark.
A direct parallel has not been found; similar cloth seals with the privy mark / initials I M can be seen here
BERK-6F6546 Long Whittingham, Oxfordshire http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/452752
SF-06A123 Weybread, Suffolk http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/383177
The cloth seal measures 26.2mm width, diameter of seal 20.4mm, 3.0mm thick and weighs 6.14 grams.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Width: 26.2 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 6.14 g
Diameter: 20.4 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SMS Entry Form: SHRMS: E.00300
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Wales (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wrexham (Unitary Authority)
District: Wrexham (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Chirk (Community)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SJ2738
Four figure Latitude: 52.934415
Four figure longitude: -3.087547
1:25K map: SJ2738
1:10K map: SJ23NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: HESH-E34128
Object type: SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Cast lead or lead alloy bag seal of probable later post medieval date (1600 - 1700 AD). The bag seal is sub-circular in plan and rectangular …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: HESH-136956
Object type: CLOTH SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
An incomplete cast lead or lead alloy two part cloth seal of probable post medieval date (1500-1800 AD). The seal comprises an upper and low…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SUR-6D0424
Object type: HARNESS PENDANT
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A medieval cast copper alloy shield-shaped harness pendant containing a lively depiction of a butterfly in red (or possibly brown) and white …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618