Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: IOW-4C0865
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Medieval lead-alloy pointed-oval (vesica-shaped) personal seal matrix (c. 1200-c. 1300).
The die has an outer and inner plain line border containing an inscription which is illegible in places. At the base, both lines of the inner border have been continued too far so that they cross; the way in which this has been done suggests that they were compass-drawn.
The initial mark is missing due to a break. Viewing an impression, the inscription reads from right to left: S' ANGNET' ATR ... (Seal of Agnes Atr...)
The letters at the end are bunched together, possibly damaged, and could be read in several ways. The modern equivalent of Angnet would be Agnes; the modern equivalent of the surname could be Atrill, Attride, Attridge or Ethridge, etc.
The central inscribed/incuse motif depicts a standing stylised bird facing left.
The rear face has a vertical mid-rib with parallel sides and the majority of the suspension loop at the top is missing.
This seal matrix is grey with buff deposits in places. The top and a small portion of the base are missing due to breaks. There is no wear at the front or rear.
Height: 26.3mm; width: 19.6mm; thickness including portion of suspension loop: 5.6mm. Weight: 9.36g.
Harvey and McGuinness (1996, p. 88) suggest that the pointed oval shaped seals such as this were popular during the 13th century when they were particularly preferred by women and that from the 13th century onwards wit, sentimentality and popular devotion appear regularly on personal seal matrices.
Harvey, P. D. A. and McGuinness, A. 1996. A Guide to British Medieval Seals. London: The British Library and Public Record Office.
Class:
personal
Sub class: woman
Inscription:
S' ANGNET ATR.....
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1300
Quantity: 1
Height: 26.3 mm
Width: 19.6 mm
Thickness: 5.6 mm
Weight: 9.36 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 30th August 2015 - Sunday 30th August 2015
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: IOW2015-1-329
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 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 | 88 |