Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: IOW-2AF187
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete and misshapen post-Medieval lead alloy inner disc from a four-disc cloth seal (c. 1625-c. 1725).
Originally the disc would have been circular and there is a slight indication of a joining tab at the base.
Although not complete, the front depicts a cast relief design of a winged female (an angel) with arms extended. In the left hand the angel holds a sceptre-like item (from parallels, probably a palm branch) and the right an orb-like item, probably an hour-glass. The angel is naturalistically depicted, but the costume seems archaic, resembling Tudor dress; with a farthingale or padded roll around the hips, a bodice-like garment and a flared skirt. Around the edge is an inscription reading [GLORIA] IN EXCELSIS. The words are separated by small circular pellets.
The rear face is flat an undecorated.
The object is fractured and has a buff patina. The breaks are old.
Length: 35.0mm; width: 26.6mm; thickness: 1.3mm. Weight: 9.29g.
Similar cloth seals have been recorded on The Portable Antiquities Scheme database: BERK-FEAC5A; BUC-6A5141; HESH-33CDF1; LIN-E99C52; NMGW-A3661B; NMS-381075; PUBLIC-4726F3 and SWYOR-F71605.
There are also several parallels published in Egan (1995) - see pages 41-43, nos. 64-69. They are City of London seals, and Geoff Egan comments on p. 41 that the palm branch and hour-glass are probably symbols of the City's pious optimism for a stable and lasting trade. Some shipwreck finds give security to the date.
Egan, G., 1995. Lead cloth seals and related items in the British Museum, British Museum Occasional Papers, 93 London: Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum
Class:
Four-disc
Inscription:
[GLORIA] IN EXCELSIS
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1625
Date to: Circa AD 1725
Quantity: 1
Length: 35 mm
Width: 26.6 mm
Thickness: 1.3 mm
Weight: 9.29 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 28th August 2016 - Sunday 28th August 2016
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Other reference: IOW2016-2-232
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egan, G. | 1994 | Lead cloth seals and related items in the British Museum | London | Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum | 41-43 | 64-69 |