2024-03-28T11:34:49+00:00https://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/jsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/xmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/rsshttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/atomhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/kmlhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/geojsonhttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/qrcodehttps://finds.org.uk/database/search/results5120Staffordshire10CountyMEDIEVAL1Metal detectorwmid843708.jpg150522017From a paper map1149824MD5.3DistrictCertain4WMID150641285Croxdenx1422136.2East Staffordshire110942019-02-25T13:30:21ZReturned to finderWest MidlandsExactly
A complete lead papal bulla, issued by Pope Martin IV (AD 1281 to AD 1285).
The obverse bears the legend "MAR / TINVS / PP •IIII•" within a beaded border. 'PP', is an abbreviation of pastor pastorum - meaning shepherd of the shepherds.
The reverse depicts the face of St Peter and St Paul, below the inscription SPA SPE (SPA = Sanctus Paulus, SPE = Sanctus Petrus), all of which are surrounded by a beaded border, flanking the outside edge of the bulla. Some of the beaded border is missing. St Peter is seen on the right, looking left, with St. Paul on the left looking right, with a long pointed beard, within a backwards-C shaped beaded border, joined to the main. There is a cross between the saints.
Two circular holes have been drilled into the bulla. One is located in the centre, and the other at 2 o'clock on the obverse, towards the edge. They have an internal diameter of 3.0 mm.
The bulla measures 36.2 mm in length, 37.0 mm wide and 5.3 mm thick. It weighs 36.2 g.
The surface of the bulla has a well developed cream coloured patination and the bulla is in very good condition.
Several papal bullae of Pope Martin IV have been recorded on the PAS database, including KENT-FF5704, IOW-5C6967, BERK-47DE41 and DENO-533BB4.
Papal bullae were used as seals on official papal documents sent out from Rome (and during the schism, Avignon) as a means of authentication. Tim Pestell has stated on other bulla records: "Papal bulls came as two basic types, according to the contents of the document: Tituli, or "Letters of Grace", essentially granted or confirmed rights, conferred benefices or promulgated statutes. They generally had their lead bullae attached with cords of silk. Mandamenta, or "Letters of Justice" were mandates that conveyed papal orders, prohibitions or injunctions, and had their bullae attached by hemp threads". They may have also had a secondary use as an amulet, which may explain the ancient damage to this example.
Helen Geake36.29-1.91213288WMID-84383B8724261MEDIEVALBULLASK0640finds-87242641378WMID-843708Complete1281x14221images/tgilmore/SPA SPE / MAR / TINVS / PP •IIII•1636224PAS59F8437000184632017-10-31T09:33:36ZCertainx142212017-09-14T23:00:00Z292017-09-14T23:00:00Z52.95734031MEDIEVALLead41426MD1Exactly29http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/MEDIEVALCertainCivil Parish2022-07-14T07:14:23.076Z4StaffordshireCountyMEDIEVAL1Metal detectorWMID-82FF84.jpg1505219991147921MD5.33DistrictCertain2WMID1479735.681303Lichfieldx1422139.7Lichfield110942020-07-22T14:52:50ZReturned to finderWest MidlandsCirca
A complete, but reused cast lead alloy papal bulla of Pope Boniface VIII, pope from AD 1294 to AD 1303). The obverse bears an inscription of BONI FA[ ]VS PP:VIII, split into three lines, identifying it as a bulla of Pope Boniface VIII. Like the obverse, the pelleted border around the outside has mostly been erased by the edge being hammered out and folded over.
The reverse depicts St. Paul, on the left of the seal looking right, depicted with a long pointed beard. St. Peter is on the right facing left and has a rounded face with beard and hair formed of pellets. Both faces are contained within beaded borders and separated from one another by a crozier. Across the top of the reverse, the inscription reads SPA SPE (an abbreviation of St Paul and St Peter. The pellet border around the outside of the obverse has been mostly erased by the edge being hammered and folded over it.
A sub-circular perforation (hole) is present slightly off centre, with an internal diameter of 4.3 mm. A ridge is present around the outside of the perforation, on both the obverse and reverse, suggesting that a drill was used to perforate the bulla.
The reverse exhibits several vertical and diagonal scratches, across the faces of St Peter & St Paul, probably as part of a deliberate defacement. Four vertical scratches are present on St Peter's face, and two vertical and two diagonal across St Paul's face.
The edge of the bulla is plain and undecorated. A short horizontal slit is present at the base of the bulla, measuring 4.11 mm and a small hole is present at the top of the bulla. These holes are where the original cord, either silk or hemp, was placed to seal it to the papal decree that the bulla authenticated.
The bulla has a diameter 35.68 mm and is 5.33 mm thick. It weighs 39.7 g. It is a mid grey colour, with an even surface patina.
The papal bulla is a formal seal of office used by the Popes to stamp and authenticate documents produced by the papal curia. Dr Tim Pestell has commented: "Papal bulls came as two basic types, according to the contents of the document: Tituli, or "Letters of Grace", essentially granted or confirmed rights, conferred benefices or promulgated statutes. They generally had their lead bullae attached with cords of silk. Mandamenta, or "Letters of Justice" were mandates that conveyed papal orders, prohibitions or injunctions, and had their bullae attached by hemp threads".
Several other examples of papal bulla with a central perforation have been recorded on the PAS database, e.g. LIN-E39DF1, SWYOR-F52016 and HESH-1517A7.
The perforation in these cases is too small for use as a spindle whorl (compare WREX-55AF7A, with a larger and more practical central perforation). A more likely reason would be to suspend it either to wear or more likely to display.
Tim Pestell comments: The use of a central perforation is quite enigmatic but is a recurring feature found on at least eight other papal bullae I know of. Others have piercings at the top, apparently for them to be suspended. Quite why so many should be pierced is unclear but they may have been used as apotropaic pieces and affixed through the centre.
Teresa Gilmore9WMID-831344564384Bulla Boniface VIII1MEDIEVALSPINDLE WHORLfinds-56438411WMID-82FF84Incomplete1294x14221images/tgilmore/SPA SPE / BONI FA[ ]VS PP:VIII1429411PAS51B82FF80018E532013-06-12T09:23:20ZCertainx142211999-01-01T00:00:00Z129Regional importance1999-12-31T00:00:00ZMEDIEVALLead41426MD1Circa29http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/MEDIEVALCertainCivil Parish2022-07-14T07:11:17.578Zfinds-556543556543WMID-5190D4BULLAMEDIEVALAn incomplete lead papal bulla of Pope Nicholas III (pope AD 1277 to AD 1280). Approximately half of the papal bulla is present, as it has broken in half where the string or cord was fastened through the centre of the bulla. It is now roughly semi-circular in shape.
The obverse depicts the face of Saint Paul with straight hair swept back from the forehead, and a pointed beard. Saint Peter, who would have had hair and beard made up from dots indicating curly hair, is missing. The reverse reads [ ]ICO / [ ]VS / [ ]III with a vertical line of three dots after the S and the last I. A pelleted border is present on both the obverse and reverse and the obverse has traces of a pelleted border around the head of St Paul. It has a diameter of 31.05 mm, it is 21.28 mm wide, 4.82 mm thick and weighs 18.3 g. It is an off-white colour, with an even surface patina.
Tim Pestell (Norwich Castle Museum) notes that it can be identified as a bulla of Nicholas III from the three dots following the S and 'III' (those of Nicholas IV, which uses 'IIII', have only a single pellet following the numeration and the 'S' is slightly different). He comments that it appears to have a hole punched through the centre before it was cut (or broken?) in half.SPA [ ]/ [ ]ICO / [ ]VS / [ ]IIIpapal2929127712803WMID2013-02-23T00:00:00Z2013-04-22T12:03:41Z2023-06-28T13:19:02Z18.3PAS5175190D0017CB31.054.8221.281912141426150521481514797StaffordshireLichfieldLongdonSK071352.714615-1.8978172635315110WMID-519551Lead11094IncompleteMEDIEVALx14221MEDIEVALx14221x14221Metal detectorReturned to finderwmid-5190d4.jpg424108images/tgilmore/West MidlandsCertain12023-06-28T12:19:02.359ZBedford1Unitary Authority8.95MEDIEVAL1Metal detectorWMID-928FD1_reversed.jpg43871From finder111391MDUnitary AuthorityCertain4WMID438718.951350Riseleyx142212634928716Bedford110942015-11-25T13:01:03ZReturned to finderEasternCirca
A complete cast lead alloy seal matrix, of Medieval date (c. AD 1250 - c. AD 1350).
The seal matrix is flat and circular, with a sub-circular lug on the reverse with a rectangular cross-section. The lug has been pierced centrally with a sub-circular hole 2.04 mm in diameter. The lug is on a ridge which acts as an orientation device to ensure that the seal matrix is placed the right way up in the wax. Two horizontal ridges are present at the top of the ridge, to indicate the top.
The die depicts a seven pointed star, created from intersecting incised lines. The inscription surrounds this and is between grooved borders. It reads +.S'. ROBE.SVTOR.: (Seal of Robert Sutor). Sutor is a surname derived from the Latin for shoemaker (Reaney and Wilson, under entry for Soutar).
The seal matrix measures 8.95 mm tall, 24.47 mm diameter at the base and the top of the handle measures 10.27 mm wide by 3.71 mm thick, the die is 3.67 mm thick. It weighs 16.0 g.
The seal matrix is a light to mid grey colour, with an even surface patina present. Some of the original soil is still present within the recesses of the die.
Helen Geake9-0.477817WMID-9292515421531MEDIEVALSEAL MATRIXTL0463finds-5421531110WMID-928FD1Complete1250x14221images/tgilmore/+.S'. ROBE.SVTOR.:1413959PAS510928FD00128B32013-01-30T14:06:53ZCertainx142212952.255352MEDIEVALLead41425MD1Circa29http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/MEDIEVALCertainCivil Parish2022-07-14T07:11:05.71ZDenbighshire10Unitary Authority15.82MEDIEVAL1Metal detectorLVPL-CEEB37_reversed.jpg25487From a paper map1221851MD
Thanks to Elizabeth New for her help with this seal matrix. She should not be blamed for any persisting errors.
5.3Unitary AuthorityCertain4LVPL2548727.681300Llangollenx142212634871530.4Denbighshire110942015-12-09T13:50:49ZReturned to finderWalesCirca
A complete cast lead seal matrix, of Medieval date (c. 1250 - c.1350 AD).
The seal matrix has a circular die, with a large D-shaped lug on the reverse. This is rectangular in cross-section and has an off-centre sub-circular perforation, diameter 2.52mm. No marks appears to be visible to aid orientation of the die.
The die depicts four leaves arranged in an quatrefoil design, surrounded by a grooved border and then the legend around the edge. Each leaf consists of five diagonal petals or leaves. The legend appears to read + S': GRONW MON AP HOVA (Seal of Gronw Mon Son of Hova). Gronw is a known medieval Welsh name (Gronw Pebr appears in the Mabinogion). Mon is Welsh for Anglesey, although both the M and O of Mon appear to have horizontal contraction marks over them. Hova may be an approximation to the name Hywel.
The seal matrix is a light mid grey colour, with an even surface patina present. Some of the edges demonstrate a minor degree of abrasion, resulting in the illegibility of the inscription and roughening around the edges.
The seal matrix measures 15.82mm tall, 27.68mm diameter at the base and the top of the handle measures 13.63mm wide by 3.74mm thick, the die is 5.30mm thick. It weighs 30.4g.
Personal seal matrices with names were most popular in the 13th century.
Helen Geake9-3.192907LVPL-CEED174439961MEDIEVALSEAL MATRIXSJ2043finds-443996118LVPL-CEEB37Complete1200x14221images/tgilmore/+ S': GRONW MON AP HOVA1329227PAS4DDCEEB3001DBC32011-05-25T12:57:40ZCertainx142212952.978353MEDIEVALLead41424MD1Circa29http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/MEDIEVALCertainCommunity2022-07-14T07:10:03.621Z