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CLOTH SEAL
Unique ID: SWYOR-A03611
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete, two disc, lead cloth seal of early Post-Medieval date, about AD 1500 - 1650. The seal is circular in plan, though a considerable amount of the upper disc has broken away and is now missing. The front face carries a moulded design in the form of a pinecone and the second, smaller, disc a moulded letter A. The seal has a light, cream patina. It is 14.6mm long, 13.5mm wide and 3.6mm thick. It weighs 2.52gm.
Other seals with this design are recorded on the database: compare for example records DUR-6BC35E, SOM-8C1932 and LIN-0D85A. This last reference suggests that the letter A may indicate Augsburg as the origin of the seal and cites Saunders, P. (ed.), 2001, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue: Part 3, page 70.
See also page 296 of Elton (2017) which notes that the pine cone was a symbol of Augsberg from the late 15th century, and the capital letter A began to be used on seals in the mid 16th century. Augsberg seals are from linen warp cotton weft fabrics known in England as Ousbrow or Augusta fustians in the 16th and early 17th century.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 14.6 mm
Width: 13.5 mm
Thickness: 3.6 mm
Weight: 2.52 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 19th April 2018 - Thursday 19th July 2018
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: PAS form number 3198
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: York (Unitary Authority)
District: York (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Copmanthorpe (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SE5547
Four figure Latitude: 53.91623488
Four figure longitude: -1.16412211
1:25K map: SE5547
1:10K map: SE54NE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elton, S. F. | 2017 | Cloth Seals: An Illustrated reference guide to the identification of lead seals attached to cloth | Oxford | Archaeopress Archaeology | 296 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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