https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-58202.html Sun, 08 Sep 2024 13:40:37 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A lozenge-shaped copper-alloy object of the Roman period, tentatively identified as a seal-box lid, the hinge of which is now missing. The object is of shallow, hollow-backed form with moulded decoration on the front and a plain back. The decoration consists of a central Celtic-style triskele within a plain circle, surrounded by four arcs or elongated crescents, the concave outward-facing edges of which are conspicuously serrated. On the major and minor axes, there are respectively trefoils of pellets and single pellets between the central circle and the surrounding crescents. The whole design is contained within a raised rim, which follows the object's lozenge-shaped outline. The recessed areas between the design elements were probably originally enamelled, but no traces of enamel survive.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-56408.html Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:32:40 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A copper-alloy seal-box lid of the Roman period. The lid is piriform with decoration consisting of three concentric recesses which originally contained enamel, the central recess is pierced. The integrally cast pierced hinge lug and part of the sub-triangular terminal that once had a rounded knop survive. Vestiges of red enamel and another undetermined colour are present within the recesses.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-56186.html Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:52:37 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A small copper-alloy seal-box lid of the Roman period. It is circular with two diametrically opposed peripheral lugs. It has a central aperture to accommodate a small riveted ornament, this is surrounded by two concentric bands, one around the outer edge of the disc and one placed in the middle. The bands create two recessed fields for the enamelled decoration, the outer field retains remnants of red and blue enamel in an alternating sequence. The upper lug is tongue-shaped and decorated with a small annular cell, it carries a small location pin on the underside which would have registered with a recess in the box. The opposing angled lug is the hinge, rectangular in section, rounded at the terminal end.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-56020.html Fri, 09 Apr 2021 15:28:03 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A vesica-shaped copper-alloy seal box lid of the Roman period. It is decorated with a design consisting of four circular and two elliptical cells arranged symmetrically around a central roundel and rosette. The cells retain a degraded blue enamel infill, and the surrounding field is inlaid with white enamel. There is an incomplete hinge-lug at one end of the lid, and a small locating and lifting lug opposite.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-base-54742.html Fri, 25 Oct 2019 14:17:22 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A rectangular seal box base of the Roman period. it has a raised inner rim, central slots on the sides for the passage of a cord and four evenly spaced circular perforations. Three of the rounded corner knops and part of the hinge survive. For a probable example of the missing lid See UKDFD 12436
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-54585.html Wed, 04 Sep 2019 17:50:03 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A copper-alloy seal-box lid of the Roman period. The lid is lozenge-shaped with a single pierced hinge-lug at the top corner and rounded knops on the remaining three. The two side knops are notched on the underside as in the first of the two Hattatt examples referenced below. The upper surface of the lid is decorated with twenty-five lozenge-shaped cells arranged in a five x five grid pattern, the cells originally held enamel in alternating, contrasting colours. Remnants of enamel in an undetermined colour survive in some of the cells.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-54342.html Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:53:24 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A complete copper-alloy seal box of the Roman period. The body of the box is circular, it has a hinge at one end, a rounded protrusion diametrically opposed, and three apertures in the base. The lid is decorated with a separately moulded phallus which is probably secured by a single rivet, the end of the phallus has annular decoration with a central cell which contains remnants of red enamel. A substantial amount of the original tinning survives on the surface of the lid.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-2118.html Sat, 04 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		Incomplete copper alloy Roman seal-box lid. The lid is flat, piriform in shape and has a hinge lug at one end, a separately moulded and stylised phallus is riveted to its face. The phallus moulding contains a small inset which once held enamel, the enamel no longer remaining. The sides of the lid are raised slightly creating a recess between face edge and centre moulding. Although degraded, much of the blue enamelling set within the recess is still retained. The reverse is flat except for the protruding rivet. Approximately one quarter of the lid has broken away at the location spike end leaving a surviving length of 26.75mm. Roman seal boxes are commonly found in Britain and were used for ensuring packages reached their intended recipient without any unauthorised opening or tampering. The seal box base would be placed on the package and after securing with a cord, a knot was tied and stamped with a wax seal, the knot would be located inside the seal box and closed thus protecting the seal. Most seal boxes display cut out notches either side of one or both compartments allowing the cord to be passed through and the box closed. A location spike fitted into place on a corresponding recess on the seal box bottom helping to ensure it would not be dislodged in transit. Commonly, seal boxes were thought to be in use during the first and second centuries although it is possible they were in use later. A similar example to the one illustrated above can be found in Richard Hattatt’s ‘Ancient Brooches And Other Artefacts’ number 157.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-lid-2974.html Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A complete copper-alloy seal box lid of the Roman period. The lid is lozenge-shaped with a knop on three corners, and a hinge-lug on the fourth. The top is elaborately decorated with a lozenge-ended cross over a central circle. The design is recessed for enamel, but only a trace (blue) remains in one lozenge-shaped cell adjacent to the hinge. The hinge-lug has an additional hole, possibly for threading on to a cord for safe keeping when not in use.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/roman/seal-boxes/seal-box-457.html Sun, 11 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT Seal boxes  

Description:		A complete Roman piriform seal box, the lid having a large roundel and a smaller triangular inset field. Both are missing the enamel with which they would originally have been decorated. The base has a slot in both edges for the passage of a cord and 3 holes underneath for attachment to the item being sealed. The lid and base are separate as the iron pin joining the two via the hinge has corroded away.
Category:		Roman, Seal boxes
Category:		Seal boxes

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