Winchester Museums Service, Robert Webley, 2012-04-05 15:42:06
Title
Medieval impression seal matrix (impression)
Description
English: A cast copper-alloy seal matrix of medieval date (14th century AD). The matrix is of circular form with a low, central, longitudinal ridge on the reverse that terminates in a semi-circular suspension loop whose perforation is 3.0mm in diameter. The die features a central motif surrounded by a impersonal legend; both are surrounded by beaded borders. The legend reads '* ALLAS : IE : SV : PRIYS', (translated): 'Alas, I am caught/taken', a common legend (see for example Harvey and McGuiness 1996, 89; ref. 82). The central device depicts a bird taking a smaller bird with a talon to the back, craning its neck to envelope the head and attack it with its beak. The birds' feathers are defined through fine incisions, with intermittent lines denoting the shorter neck and body feathers. Behind the larger bird is a sprig of foliage with three leaves, the outer of which splay outwards. This matrix has an even dark-grey patina and survives well.
Depicted place
(County of findspot) Hampshire
Date
between 1300 and 1400
date QS:P571,+1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,+1300-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1400-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Accession number
FindID: 497093 Old ref: HAMP-DAE905 Filename: HAMP-DAE905sealmatriximpression.jpg
Credit line
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a voluntary programme run by the United Kingdom government to record the increasing numbers of small finds of archaeological interest found by members of the public. The scheme started in 1997 and now covers most of England and Wales. Finds are published at https://finds.org.uk
Attribution: The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum
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