DIE STAMP

A medieval (1200-1400) copper alloy zoomorphic die, rectangular in shape and engraved on both faces.
The reverse has two grooved concentric rings at one end of the object, arranged one inside the other and measuring 21.6mm and 16.4mm respectively. The outer ring touches both long edges and the short edge.
The other face is filled by two decorative panels, one small rectangular panel flanking one short end of the object (the short end opposite to that flanking the outer grooved ring on the reverse) and measuring 20.4x13.3mm, the other larger and also rectangular in shape but with an angled end, the point of which stops just short of the centre of the smaller panel. This larger panel measures 35.7mm in length and 19.6mm wide. The angled end is formed of an inverted V with incurved sides.
The smaller panel depicts in relatively shallow removal (producing a low-relief in the impression) a triangular vase at the centre of the inside long edge, decorated with vertical grooves. Springing from this are two fleur de lis, each extending diagonally into the corners of the panel. The apex of the larger panel is in-line with the base of the vase.
The larger panel depicts a wyvern walking towards the outer short edge of the panel. The body, wings and head produce a high-relief depiction in the impression. One leg is raised, while the creature stands on the other. The legs are longitudinal ribs with a short transverse rib above a three-toed foot. The snout is topped by a small nose and the mouth is open. Two small pointed ears extend upwards from the head. The body is tear-drop shaped with a rounded breast and surmounted by a wing, which extends to a point at the tip/ end of body. The wing is decorated with longitudinal grooves and flanked on the body beneath it by a line of small punched dots (appearing as pellets on the impression).
The tail extends as a linear ridge, forming a complete circle above the tail. This encircles two fronds or perhaps wings with a circular ring-shaped element between, perhaps a low fleur de lis or bird. Two further fronds extend to the outside of the circle, one at the tip of the tail and the other to one side, behind the wyvern's head. Both curl outwards and back on themsleves. At two places around the outside of the circle is a small external projection. At the top of the circle is a sexfoil of tiny circles, a larger pellet to either side and a curved rib below, extending between the two larger pellets. Just beyond and on the line of the circle is an annulet. Extending from here to the wyvern's wing are two parallel grooves with a line of punched circles between (appearing on the impression as parallel ridges with a line of pellets between). These looks rather like ears and the annulet an eye; the two small projections to the external of the circle could be interpreted as feet.
The panels are both defined by grooves (appearing as ridges on the impression). To the inside of the larger panel, and at the head-end of the wyvern only, this is flanked by a line of punched dots (pellets on the impression). In addition a small quarter-circle curve is in each corner. An additional curve (perhaps the line of the other wing) can be seen in front of the breast.
The object is rather worn, the reverse having a grey-green coloured patina while the panel-decorated side has areas of grey-green patina on a browny-orange background. It measures 54.6mm in length, 23.6mm in width, 4.6mm in thickness and weighs 35.75g.
Rob Webley comments, 'I wonder whether the detail might mitigate against sheet metal in favour of leather (book bindings etc). At a guess it might be at the late end (or a bit later) than the bindings illustrated in English Romanesque Art, ie. c. 1200 +/- (probably +)'. Kevin Leahy comments, 'If it was a positive image I would say that it was a book binder's stamp but it is negative and would not work. Stylistically it seems to have a lot in common with Medieval seal matrices and shows a remarkable level of skill and artistic ability'. Both pers. comm. May and June 2017.