MEDIEVAL SEAL MATRIX

1250

Lead Seal Matrix. A rhomboid plate cut from cast lead sheet of thickness 2.5mm, with a knop at one end which is perforated as a means of suspension. An incised central motif within a rhomboid panel comprises a sun or star with streaming (i.e. wavy) rays above a crescent moon, with irregularly spaced dots probably representing stars at either end of the panel. An incised legend reads: X SIG ROGERI FIL [--]CON DE PRI[--] [Seal of Roger son ..of ....?pray?], with more certainty at the beginning than the end of the legend. Patinated overall, and folded into a loose S shape. The technique of manufacture is unusual though it probably imitates a vesica shaped or lentoid form, which was equally favoured for cheap matrixes with generic motifs. An incised personal legend was added at the time of purchase - a less demanding process than engraving, but here carried out neatly by a literate person. Suggested date: Medieval, 1250-1400.Length (as found): 30.5mm, Width: 25.4mm, Thickness (overall, as folded): 7mm, Weight: 18.00gms.