Rights Holder: Hampshire Cultural Trust
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
SEAL MATRIX
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 actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 27.2 mm
Width: 16.4 mm
Thickness: 7.2 mm
Weight: 5.04 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st February 2018 - Wednesday 28th February 2018
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: Hampshire Cultural Trust Object Entry Form WINCM 387
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hampshire (County)
District: Havant (District)
Parish or ward: St. Faith's (District Ward)
Spatial coordinates
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.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: HAMP-8DF957
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A medieval copper alloy non-heraldic personal seal matrix of pointed oval form which dates to the 14th century. The matrix depicts a pelican …
Workflow: Published
Find number: SWYOR-EB3934
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A copper alloy seal matrix from the medieval period. The matrix is a pointed oval shape. It is 23.7mm long, 16.7mm wide and 6.7mm thick. On t…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SUR-C178AD
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A vesica shaped personal seal matrix, 31.2mm in length. The die face depicts a pelican on a nest feeding its chicks from the blood pecked fro…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618