Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-77EEA6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Post-Medieval lead cloth seal of of Augsburg, dating to the period c. AD 1500-1650. The surviving fragment consists a single disc (disc 1) of a two- or four-part cloth seal, with an integral rivet projecting from the reverse. A small part at the edge of the disc is folded over and this may be a remnant of the connecting strip (or of disc 2 in the case of a four-part seal).
The disc is stamped with a design featuring a large letter A in relief in the centre, with prominent serifs, a flat top and a v-shaped cross-bar. There is a small circle above the A and traces of another, of similar size below, which has worn away. To the right is a lozenge of similar size to the circles. A beaded border around the circumference of the disc is still visible above and to the left of the A.
On the reverse of the disc, the rivet is stamped with part of a design, which by comparison to similar seals, is known to represent a pine cone.
Diameter: 17.8mm. Length (including connecting strip remnant): 19.8mm. Thickness: 5.1mm. Weight: 4.06g
Egan (1994:106) writes: "seals from the fustians (mixed linen-warp and cotton-weft fabrics) of Augsburg, known to contemporaries in this country as 'Ousbrow or Augusta fustians', are among the most common and widespread of all the recorded imports in England, constituting almost one third of the Continental seals found here... The pine-cone on the stamps is the heraldic badge of the city and the letter A is it's initial... Sixteenth/early seventeenth century dating seems appropriate for these."
Similar examples on the database include: DENO-FFD81E, DEV-2076D0, SOM-903095, and SOM-903095
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Quantity: 1
Length: 19.8 mm
Thickness: 5.1 mm
Weight: 4.06 g
Diameter: 17.8 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st December 2016 - Saturday 31st December 2016
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Other reference: SCC receipt: 019811
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 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 |