SEAL MATRIX

Medieval copper alloy circular seal matrix. On the front there is a central incuse design of a hawk catching a hare, the hawk has its wings folded and head bent to attach the hares head. The design is detailed with lines representing fur and feathers. The design is encircled by a pellet border. Around the border is the inscription starting with a star. The inscription reads: LE OSTVR PREAT LE LEVRE, The goshawk takes (catches) the hare. There is a pellet outer border. The flat back has a slightly raised line running down the centre which expands into a solid semi-circular in profile lug just below the top. The lug is pierced transversely by a drilled circular hole. the lug corresponds to the star at the start of the legend on the front. The matrix is 20.2mm in diameter, 3.2mm thick excluding the lug 8.0mm including. It weighs 5.04g.

The style of the matrix, small, circular with a design relating to hunting and an impersonal inscription, suggests a fourteenth century date (Harvey and McGuiness 1996:80). This specific design of a hawk with its prey, usually with the legend Alas je su pris (alas, I am caught) was very popular (ibid:89). LIN-640397, also similar in form, names the Hare as LE LEVRE but fewer seem to name the hawk. The goshawk was used by both nobles and yeomen in the Medieval period and, although not considered as noble as the falcons, was respected for its hunting ability.