Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
CLOTH SEAL
Unique ID: IOW-CC7764
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete post-Medieval two part cast lead cloth seal from Valenciennes in France (c. 1500-c. 1800).
The front disc and part of the projection survives but the back disc and tab that linked the disks are missing to old breaks.
The front disc has a raised design of a swan standing left with the inscription (star) L (star) VALLENCIENS. On the reverse of this disc is a central projection which was pressed through the other disc and stamped flat. The reverse side of the front disc has a cloth impression. The seal has been crudely pierced through from the front to the back.
This seal has an even buff patina.
Height: 19.67mm; width: 17.54mm; thickness: 3.08mm. Weight: 2.41g.
A seal of Valenciennes is recorded in Egan (1994, 105) no. 307. Egan suggests the cheap, hard-wearing worsteds of Valenciennes were popular from the mid-16th century and similar seals were in use from the late 16th until the 18th century.
Compare with seals: NMS-B67562; SOM-0FB081 and SOM-E2CC17.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Inscription:
(star) L (star) VALLENCIENS
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 19.67 mm
Width: 17.54 mm
Thickness: 3.08 mm
Weight: 2.41 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 19th March 2014
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2014-4-48
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egan, G. | 1994 | Lead cloth seals and related items in the British Museum | London | Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum | 105 | 307 |
Similar objects
Find number: SOM-E2CC17
Object type: CLOTH SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A post-medieval two part cloth seal, probably from Valenciennes in France. The front disc and part of the projection survives but the back di…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SOM-0FB081
Object type: CLOTH SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post Medieval two part cloth seal, probably from Valenciennes in France. The front disc and part of the projection survives but the back disc…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-511439
Object type: CLOTH SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Incomplete post-medieval two part lead cloth seal, probably from Valenciennes in France: (rivet only) part of an illegible device // a swan (…
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