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.

Stunning 16thC seal matric - R H

Post medieval copper seal ring

17thC seal ring - IB

17thC Charles II circa 1670 silver seal matrix - reported to Colchester museum as treasure	Stunning 17thC seal matrix - reported to museum as treasure
17thC seal matrix - reported to museum as treasure	Stunning ecclesiastical 17thC silver seal matrix - reported as treasure to museum
17thC silver seal matrix - clasped hands and heart - reported a streasure to museum	Post 17thC silver seal matrix
c13thC medieval silver seal matrix - Crossed hands and flowers Lombardic lettering - Edward type E's and barred A's. Appears to be * E( ? AUI IDE( LI ?'	17thC silver seal matrix - reported to museum as treasure Crown over Tudor rose
17thC silver seal matrix - rev initial IC ,	17thC silver seal matrix

17thC silver seal matrix - reported as treasure to museum

ESS-49C036 Seal Matrix

Treasure 2008 T579 : Post Medieval silver seal matrix. It is 25.12mm long, measuring 13.76mm by 11.36mm wide. Weight 4.93 grams. British Museum Report: Silver seal-die, fluted handle with baluster knop and suspension loop, the die engraved very lightly and crudely with a double-headed eagle displayed, no edging. Probably 17th Century. There is an amateurish look to this seal die, which is also heavily worn. As such, due to its age and precious metal content, this object qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996. Dr Dora Thornton, Curator of Renaissance Collections The British Museum

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL

Date from: AD 1600
Date to: AD 1700

Dimensions and weight

Length: 25.12 mm
Width: 13.76 mm
Thickness: 11.36 mm
Weight: 4.93 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver

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

16thC seal matrix with bird impression

Incomplete Post Medieval cast copper alloy seal matrix. Originally this would have been a quadruple seal-matrix; four ovals joined by arms at a lozengeform junction with openwork circle. Only the commecting junction and one oval survives. The matrix is worn, with only a slight depression now visible. It is 28.72mm long, with the matrix measuring 13.93mm by 13.43mm. It weighs 6.43 grams. For a similar example see Reed (1988) History beneath our feet, page 117 figure 5.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Finder applying for an export licence

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL

Date from: AD 1600
Date to: AD 1750

Dimensions and weight

Length: 28.72 mm
Width: 13.93 mm
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Incomplete

Post medieval seal matrix - sunburst impression

16thC Tudor seal matrix

Interesting lead seal matrix - Piper facing right

'BOORSEIS'

17thC seal

Basically the seal has two Arabic words “khulqahu – subhanahu” which are attributes of God meaning something like “Allah, to whom be ascribed all perfection and majesty, as confirmed through His creation”

If I had to translate it using fewer words, I would say “Glory – His Creation”

17thC seal matrix

16thC seal matrix - DC

17thC seal matrix - heart and arrows inscription

17thC seal matrix

17th C seal matrix - griffin facing right impression

17th Seal matrix

17th Seal matrix

17th C silver seal matrix - reported as treasure to museum

Fob seal holders

The tiniest Georgian fob seal I have ever seen - you see the scale by the tweezers holding the seal - amazing skill to cut a detailed bust impression that small