Seal Types

Seals survive both as matrices and as impressions, though impressions are more common. A matrix may be of various kinds. Seals of royalty, great aristocrats and important institutions usually used a circular matrix. Sometimes there were two matrices, a seal and a counterseal, so that the wax impression which resulted would be two sided, with a different design on each side. Circular seals are known as coin seals because they resemble a coin. Coin seals vary considerably in size, but royal seals were often large. Richard III’s great seal, for example, was 900mm in diameter. The seal of a middle-ranking aristocrat would be smaller; perhaps around 350mm in diameter. Fifteenth-century great royal seals normally showed the king galloping on horseback, with drawn sword and a shield bearing the royal arms. In the early middle ages great aristocrats had used similar designs, but by the fifteenth century most of them avoided what had by then come to be seen as a royal pattern. (Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the seal of ‘Warwick the Kingmaker’ is an exception.) Instead most noblemen used seals which depicted their arms, often with the shield couché (inclined at a 45 degree angle) beneath a large helm.

Prior to the fifteenth century pointed oval designs, called vesica seals, were popular with noble women and also with high ranking ecclesiastics. The shape allowed room either to depict a full length standing figure of the owner, or alternatively to show scenes at two levels. Monastic seals often used the latter device, with a main, upper register depicting the monastery’s patron saint, and a small lower register in which the prior or abbot was shown praying. By the fifteenth century, vesica seals were somewhat out of fashion, but they still occur on documents, because monasteries in particular tended to continue using seal matrices made years — or sometimes centuries — earlier.

By the fifteenth century, use of seals was widespread. One nobleman is said to have remarked acidly that in earlier times it had not been the custom for every Tom, Dick and Harry to use a seal. Most seals were quite small, and the most common forms of matrix were the pyramid seal (a small, usually circular design with a stem on the back, by which it could be held) and the signet, which could be of any shape (but was often circular or oval) and comprised the bezel of a ring.

Seal impressions are usually of wax, though royal and papal seals were sometimes impressed in metal such as lead, or even gold. Such metal impressions were called bullæ. (This word is the origin of the expression ‘papal bull’, referring to a sealed letter from the pope.) Seal impressions were not directly attached to their documents, but hung from them on small strips of parchment or (for persons of high rank) silk threads.

ESS-A3AA61 Seal Matrix

TREASURE CASE: 2008 T233 Medieval silver seal matrix with roman intaglio. Weight 5.92 British Museum Report: A Medieval seal matrix, which is oval in shape and set at its centre with a orange-red carnelian, representing an ant climbing on a piece of vegetation. The legend reads: + S I G I L : S E C R E T I (Latin for “Secret Seal”) On the reverse is the suspension loop, which terminates in a trefoil. The intaglio is classical and probably dates to the 1st to 3rd centuries. The motif is quite unusual, although ants and other insects are sometimes represented on Classical gems. There are similarities between the body of the insect and Henig 712, and a possible dragonfly represented on Henig 713 (not illustrated). Henig 711 shows an ant of similar type but from above rather than in profile. (Henig, M. 1978. A corpus of Roman engraved gemstones from British Sites. BAR British Series 8). Dimensions: length 22 mm, width 18 mm. The seal matrix is silver and dates from the thirteenth century; as such it qualifies as Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act 1996. J P Robinson Curator of Medieval Collections 18th August 2008

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Acquired by Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: AD 1200
Date to: AD 1300

Dimensions and weight

Length: 22 mm
Width: 18 mm
Weight: 5.92 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver

Secondary material: Gem

Manufacture method: Multiple

Completeness: Complete

ESS-0F1F33 Seal Matrix

13th C bronze Vessica seal matrix - 31.48mm H x 18.48mm wide - 8.45g

Script - NOLONIM ESDARI : U

Medieval (13th to 14th Century) cast copper alloy vessical seal matrix. The reverse has a central ridge along its length, with an integral loop at its apex. The matrix depicts a central standing figure, with hands clasped in front. The surrounding legend reads + NO HONI MESDONRI:' The matrix has a dark green patina. It is 31.75mm long, 18.22mm wide, 5.1mm thick and weighs 8.32 grams.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Finder applying for an export licence

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL

Period to: MEDIEVAL

Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1400

Dimensions and weight

Length: 31.75 mm
Width: 18.22 mm
Thickness: 5.1 mm
Weight: 8.32 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Complete

Medieval seal matrix

Anonymous: letter I early 15thC. An initial with crown above, branches at the side, was a design that became increasingly common in the 15thC and was often used on a signet ring as below. The letter suggests it stood for the owners forename. This example was used in 1424 by Edward Saddler, clerk

ESS-0C2DF2 Seal Matrix

Medieval, circular, lead seal matrix. The matrix has a central 6 petalled flower design, surrounded by the legend +SIGIL.RICARDI.FILL.RAVVLI 'The seal of Richard, son of Ravvli'. The reverse has an integrally cast suspension loop, and a central raised six petalled flower, surrounded by curved lines. It is 32.75mm in diameter, 4.39mm thick excluding the suspesion loop and weighs 24.56g.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Finder applying for an export licence

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL

Period to: MEDIEVAL

Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Thickness: 4.39 mm
Weight: 24.56 g
Diameter: 32.75 mm
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Complete

PAS-8E6B26 Seal matrix

17th century silver mount or seal die Circumstances of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector Description: (Please note this description is based on an image and not first hand experience of the object.) This silver mount is octagonal in plan and flat in section. It is decorated to the front face with the negative design of a heart with a crown above, bisected by two crossing arrows with feathered flights, within a border of pellets. The reverse of the mount is plain. There is a raised circular collar to the centre of the reverse. The negative design and collar may suggest that the object was once mounted on a shaft and used as a seal. The design is similar (though not identical) to that found on a number of post-medieval buttons or cufflinks previously reported as treasure (e.g. Treasure Annual Report 2001, page 81). The design may have commemorated the marriage of Charles II with Catharine of Braganza in 1662. Dimensions: Length: 14.85mm, width: 14.1mm, Weight: 2.19g. The object contains a minimum of 10% silver and is over 300 years old. Consequently it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2005 T491

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL

Period to: POST MEDIEVAL

Date from: AD 1600
Date to: AD 1699

Dimensions and weight

Length: 14.85 mm
Width: 14.1 mm
Weight: 2.19 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver

Completeness: Incomplete

14thC Medieval heraldic seal matrix - plain shield with single fesse

Tamas de Kent ?

Human face on a rat's body impression?

13thC Medieval seal matrix