Record ID: ESS-35C614
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete cast copper 14th century medieval seal matrix. The seal matrix is circular in plan and flat in section. To the reverse is a transverse circular loop that would have been held as the seal was applied. The seal die shows the design of two heads, a man and woman, facing each other with a flowering plant between them. The inscription, inscribed in negative, around the central design is worn, but reads JE SVL SEL DE AMUR LEL or ‘I am the seal of loyal love’. Anonymous seals of this type are known as ‘love and loyalty’ seals, due to their sentimental or witty…
Created on: Wednesday 16th February 2005
Last updated: Sunday 19th January 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: ESS-CB3881
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy medieval seal matrix. The matrix is conical, the die is circular and shows the negative image of an abstract merchant's mark, within a beaded border. Around the die (also in negative)is the inscription *S'*HERMEN*FLEICHE*. A beaded border also runs the circumference of the die. The shaft is conical, and is very slightly six sided and terminates in a sub lozenge shaped loop. The die has a diameter of 23.56mm. The over all length of the matrix is 20.2mm and it weighs 15.41g. It is dark green in patina. To the back of the die, someone has deliberately scored a cru…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd February 2005
Last updated: Monday 25th January 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Halstead', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-342F65
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete cast copper alloy medieval seal matrix. The die is circular in plan and is cut with a crowned W with in an incised six pointed star (two triangles superimposed). This design all lies within an incised line border at the edge of the die face. The shaft is conical and six sided and terminates in a sub lozenge shaped loop. Beneath the loop is an integrally moulded collar consisting of three stepped bands the largest on top. The die has a diameter of 18.54mm. The over all length of the matrix is 27.9mm and it weighs 11.69g. It is mid green in patina with much of the original sur…
Created on: Monday 28th February 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Aldham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-348980
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Incomplete cast copper alloy seal matrix. This seal matrix is sub circular in plan and flat in section. The die face is badly worn with some damage, but it is possible to see what may be the negative design of a cockerel with a plumed tail. Nothing remains of an inscription, if there was one at all. The reverse of the matrix is plain. A central rib runs along the length of the die and this is now worn and abraded. The loop is missing and all that remains are the lower portions. The seal die has a diameter of 17.36mm and is 3.56mm thick. The object weighs 3.81g. Given the impersonal na…
Created on: Monday 28th February 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Lavenham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-723CD2
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete, but badly worn, cast copper alloy seal matrix. This seal matrix is lenticular, or a pointed oval, in plan. It is flat in section. To the rear of the seal matrix is an elongated circular loop, with the circular perforation blocked by corrosion product. To die face is cut with a negative inscription within a border, surrounding a central design of a standing figure holding an unknown object. Unfortunately corrosion product has obscured both the legend and design, making it impossible to take an impression. This matrix is probably the private, non-heraldic seal of an individual,…
Created on: Thursday 3rd March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Halstead', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-7372A5
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy medieval seal matrix. The die is circular in plan and shows the image of a six-lined star, with the top line extending into a Maltese cross, within a beaded border. Around the die in negative, are the letters S’IOENP+OERNN. This is a blundered legend, supported by the fact that some of the letterforms are quite poor. The shaft is conical, six sided and terminates in a sub circular loop. The die is 21.38mm in diameter. The over all length of the matrix is 23.68mm and it weighs 16.79g. Its overall patina is dark green, with some patches of light green where the …
Created on: Thursday 3rd March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'East Mersea', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-826ED3
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete, but in two halves, post-medieval silver seal matrix. The die is oval in plan and shows the negative design of a galleon with three pairs of sails, but not actually showing the masts, and front and rear castles, without a border. There is no lettered inscription. The shaft is conical and terminates in a circular loop, beneath which is an integral moulded collar, flush with the shaft. The shaft has broken approximately half way along its length. There is damage to the rear of the die face, which has resulted in a hole. The damage edges, though not fresh, are not worn, suggestin…
Created on: Friday 4th March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Black Notley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-39A9A7
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy 14th century personal, but anonymous seal matrix. The die of the seal is circular in plan with a diameter of 20.46mm. Carved in negative is the inscription * FAY ME TENE or 'Keep faith with me'. This inscription runs around an image of two crossed arms. The shaft of the seal matrix is conical, six sided and terminates in a trefoil loop. Beneath the loop is a moulded collar that echoes the six sides of the shaft. The overall length of the matrix is 24.46mm and it weighs 9.43g. The overall patina of the matrix is dark green. Harvey and McGuinness, 1990, note in…
Created on: Monday 18th April 2005
Last updated: Friday 26th April 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Hatfield Broad Oak', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-39CF96
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete copper alloy seal matrix. The die of the seal is circular in plan with a diameter of 23.48mm. Carved in negative is the inscription S’IO NIS [….] IO NIS FELI, which possibly refers to the seal of Iohanis or John, son of another Iohanis or John or alternatively the seal of John Johnson. This inscription runs around the central image. This central image is of a quartered shield. The central cross line extends beyond the top of the shield and has three pennants flying from it to the right (when viewing the impression). The shield is contained within a four-arched tressure. …
Created on: Monday 18th April 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Hatfield Broad Oak', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-39E671
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Complete cast copper alloy seal matrix. This seal matrix is circular in plan and flat in section. The die face is worn but it appears to have the concave design of a face. The inscription runs around the die, but is also worn. It appears to read (in negative) […]NNO A [?] NIGI S’L’D, which may refer to an individual who was a doctor of law. The reverse of the matrix is plain. A slight central rib runs along the length of the die terminating in a loop. The loop is intact with a circular perforation. The seal die has a diameter of 22.34mm and is 2.22mm thick. The object weighs 5.4…
Created on: Monday 18th April 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'White Roothing', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-4A44E6
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Incomplete 13th century non-heraldic, personal lead alloy seal matrix. This seal matrix is circular in plan with a diameter of 33.42mm, a thickness of 3.4mm and weighs 14.40g. It has a small semicircular gap to the edge of the die, which has obscured some letters. This gap may also have been where the knop for holding the seal was positioned, as there is no other evidence for it on the reverse. The break edges are worn, suggesting this damage occurred in antiquity. The seal die (in negative) is inscribed within a border, + [S]’ WALT[…]FL WILL DE LAhE. This may refer to Walter son …
Created on: Wednesday 25th May 2005
Last updated: Monday 17th February 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sible Hedingham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-741B34
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
Complete, cast copper alloy seal matrix, pointed-oval and flat. To the rear of the seal matrix is an elongated circular loop. From the base of the loop is a very slight rib that is just visible running the length of the reverse. The die face is cut with a negative inscription within borders of dots, which reads * PREVE SU E' POI CONV. This translates as 'I am private and little known', i.e. known to a restricted few. The legend surrounds a central image which is hard to read; perhaps a dragon or serpent, which appears to be breathing a recurving flame of fire, perhaps as a warning to …
Created on: Monday 8th August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 19th May 2016
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Arkesdon', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: ESS-B0FB88
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Fragment of cast copper alloy medieval seal matrix. This fragment represents the die face of the seal matrix. The shaft and terminal of the matrix are missing which makes the object circular in plan and conical in section. It is possible to discern that the body, and thus shaft, of the seal matrix is six sided. The die face shows (in negative) the image of a hawk attacking a duck, which is lying on its back. The inscription is worn and partial in places, but seems to read PRIVE SV[??] which translates from the French as I AM PRIVATE. The inscription may extend to read something further…
Created on: Tuesday 23rd August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Manuden', grid reference and parish protected.