Rights Holder: Hampshire Cultural Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: HAMP-CC2C38
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A medieval (1250-1400) copper alloy non-heraldic personal seal matrix, flat and of pointed oval form, depicting a pelican in her piety (feeding her young with blood dripping from her own breast) around which is the inscription S'hENRICI NIVMAN: (in modern English, Seal of Henry Newman), with all Ns reverse-barred.
The reverse of the matrix has a flat central rib narrowing from the loop to the opposite point/ edge. The loop has a moulded transverse ridge beneath it, and the central piercing is 2.8mm in diameter.
The object has a dark green, smooth and shiny patina. It measures 27.2 mm in length, 16.4 mm in max. width, 7.2mm in max.depth (at the loop; otherwise the matrix itself is max. 2.4 mm in thickness) and weighs 5.04g.
Notes:
The pelican in her piety was a symbol of Christ's sacrifice; it is one of the religious motifs which were popular during the 14th century. The legend derives from Psalm 101: 'Similis factus - sum pelicanus solitudinis' which in the English Bible is Psalm 102 verse 6: 'I am like a pelican of the wilderness' (Cherry, 1991, in Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Volume 1).
The majority of pointed oval personal matrices appear to date from the mid to late 13th century (see Harvey and McGuinness 1996: 79-88).
Malcolm Jones comments, 'As to the spelling of what would now be Newman - Reaney DBS s.n., gives a Nieweman 1169 (Oxon)' (pers. comm. December 2018).
Class:
personal
Sub class: man
Inscription:
S'hENRICI NIVMAN:
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Length: 27.2 mm
Width: 16.4 mm
Thickness: 7.2 mm
Weight: 5.04 g
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st February 2018 - Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Other reference: Hampshire Cultural Trust Object Entry Form WINCM 387
4 Figure: SU7206
Four figure Latitude: 50.84904853
Four figure longitude: -0.97861759
1:25K map: SU7206
1:10K map: SU70NW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.