https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-59233.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:06:05 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A vesica-shaped personal seal matrix of the medieval period. The intaglio design is difficult to interpret, but would appear to depict a fantastic flying quadruped with a human-head. The human head wears the hood of a jester or fool, most likely an allusion to the foolishness of man, which is found on many other seals of the time (e.g. UKDFD 12323). However, the detail of the hood is unusual; it is fashioned in the form of a bird-of-prey's head with hooked beak, which faces rearwards as worn. The Latin inscription is * S' THOME D' *LE GRENE - Seal of Thomas de le Grene. The back of the seal is plain except for a median rib, which terminates in a pierced suspension lug at one end. Origins of the de la Grene family name: The family name de la Grene (and its variants del Grene, de Grene) is of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to the late 12th century, with its roots primarily located in England. It is a locational surname that emerged from the Old English word "grene," referring to someone who lived near a village green, common land, or a grassy area.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-59231.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:19:22 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		An oval copper-alloy seal matrix with tapering hexagonal-section handle surmounted by a lozenge-shaped suspension loop. The engraved device is a male human head in profile. The intended inscription is * CAPVT SERVI DEI - Head of a Servant of God, but the letters U and V - both the vowel and consonant were a single letter at the time - have been rendered as C, resulting in * CAPCT SERCI DEI. See also UKDFD 38944.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-fragment-59139.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:01:18 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		Approximately one half of a discoidal lead-alloy seal matrix that has been cut into two pieces. The intaglio design on the front of the surviving part incorporates an ear of grain, possibly part of a stylised fleur-de-lis emblem (e.g. see UKDFD 3283). The surviving part of the surrounding inscription appears to read [ ]OTI: F'. RA[ ], the end of the owner's name and the beginning of his or her father's name, separated by the letter 'F' (abbreviation of Latin 'Filii' = son of, or 'Filiae' = daughter of). The back of the seal is plain. It is known that seals were often deliberately destroyed on the death of their owner, but it is also possible that the present one was cut by modern farm machinery.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-58915.html Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:39:43 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A circular chessman-style copper-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The seal has a tapering hexagonal-section handle surmounted by an integral suspension loop. The engraved device is the sacred monogram, IhC, below a canopy surmounted by a cross. The surrounding inscription, in Old French, is + PRIVE SV - (I) am private.  See also UKDFD 4348 and UKDFD 30659.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-58594.html Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:27:47 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A discoidal copper-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The seal depicts a squirrel eating a nut. The surrounding Latin inscription is plausibly + S' ROGERI: CRO[OK]ES (Seal of Roger Crookes), but several of the letters, particularly those bracketed, are uncertain, and this reading is very tentative. The reverse is plain except for a tapered median ridge terminating in a damaged suspension lug.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-58488.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:11:41 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A circular chessman-style copper-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The seal has a tapering hexagonal-section handle surmounted by an integral suspension loop, now blocked. The engraved device is a bird perched, its head turned rearwards, holding a leafy twig in its beak. The inscription, in (slightly blundered) Old French, is *PREVE SVY: – (I) am private. The design is possibly an allusion to the dove of the Noah's Ark story, which symbolises peace and hope, although there doesn't appear to be any direct connection with the inscription.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-58270.html Sat, 05 Oct 2024 16:28:12 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A discoidal lead or lead-alloy seal matrix, the intaglio design of which is an eight-spoked wheel. The inscription is very crudely engraved, but possibly reads S'LEO[N]OE[L]ET, suggesting that the owner's first name might be Leonard. However, the surname is uncertain, as the bracketed letters and the divisions of the inscription are unclear. The back of the seal is irregular, but probably plain, except for an integral knob near the edge.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-57936.html Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:38:52 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A small circular chessman-style copper-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The seal has a tapering hexagonal-section handle surmounted by a lozenge-shaped suspension loop. The intaglio device is a stag's head with a cross between its antlers. There is no legend, but a simple periphery of punched dots. The stag and cross is the emblem of Saint Hubert of Liège, the Christian saint of hunting who was largely venerated during the medieval period. Suffering grief after the sudden death of his wife, Hubert retreated into the forests of Ardennes. On a Good Friday morning, whilst hunting a stag, it turned towards him and above its head he saw the apparition of a floating cross. This led Hubert to renounce his inherited title and wealth and from then on dedicate his life to god. See also; UKDFD 55026, UKDFD 52404 & UKDFD 57743.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-57832.html Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:19:23 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A flat circular lead or lead-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The sealface design is a crudely engraved, thin-leaved quatrefoil. The surrounding Latin inscription is partially damaged and illegible, but the surviving portion reads + S' SIW[ARDI] [FILI]I ALAnI, Seal of Siward, son of Alan. The illegible portion of the inscription, indicated by the square brackets, is clearly abbreviated, but the exact form of the abbreviation is uncertain (+ S' SIWA'DI FI ALAnI is plausible). The reverse has a crudely moulded, thin-leaved quatrefoil, somewhat resembling the sealface design. There appears to be a moulded knob in one of the angles of the reverse quatrefoil for holding the seal. The use of a Lombardic n, rather than a Roman N, in the father's name is unusual for seals of this period. It is noted, however, that the same form of this letter is used, albeit very rarely, on certain coins of Edward I.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/seal-matrices/seal-matrix-57759.html Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:31:10 GMT Seal matrices  

Description:		A vesica-shaped copper-alloy seal matrix of the medieval period. The intaglio design is a bird (hawk?), wings outstretched, standing on a perch. The surrounding Latin inscription is engraved in neat Lombardic letters and reads ⚜SIGILL':SECRETI:WILLI': - Private (i.e. Personal ) Seal of William. The seal has a plain back and an integral pierced suspension lug at the upper end. Note The initial mark, interpreted here as a fleur-de-lis, appears somewhat one-sided on the images. It might alternatively depict the crooked end of a bishop's crozier.
Category:		Medieval, Seal matrices
Category:		Seal matrices

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