Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: NLM-CFA845
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A cast copper-alloy medieval seal matrix. The matrix has a hexagonally faceted conical handle ending in a circular pierced terminal. The collar of the terminal consists of two ribs. The centre of the circular matrix has a hare facing right with a crescent underneath.
Malcolm Jones kindly comments on the legend as follows, correcting an initial reading [see notes below]: 'A beautifully clear impression -- as far as I can see the legend reads SOHOVLU?IMHER -- clearly composed of the familiar "sohou" cry and then LU?IMHER [the sequence is certainly -IM- and not -MI- as presently read]. If the mystery letter is an R rather than the D presently read -- though I admit it is somewhat different from the final letter R), then LURIMHER or LORIMHER (if the U is an imprefectly registered O)'. He adds: 'If we read the mystery letter as R ... then LURIMHER or LORIMHER, the occupational surname, modern Lorimer, is a possibility ["Soho, Lorimer!"]. If we read LURIMHER then "lure (h)im here" is also conceivable but not ideally suited to the context -- hares are not 'lured'.
The length is 19.7mm, the diameter is 17.8mm and the weight is 6.21g.
Notes:
An original reading was offered as: 'SOHOV LOD MI HER (Sohov led me here)', and was kindly corected by Malcolm Jones
Inscription:
SOHOVLU?IMHER
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 1300
Date to: AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Length: 19 mm
Weight: 6.21 g
Diameter: 17.8 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 8th November 2004
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Other reference: NLM08622
No references cited so far.