Code: 13171
This is a nice medieval bronze armorial seal, dating to the 13th century. It would have once belonged to a knight, bearing his arms. The armorial displays 'Two lions passant '; being without any visible tinctures, it is hard to be more precise. The seal is inscribed with the owner's name in a form of 'Lombardic' script; this reads to me as "S'WILLIAM DE CANVILLE". The seal of Sir William Canville is round, button-shaped, with a pendant loop on the back for suspension. These were extremely important objects to their owners, seldom misplaced or lost as credit cards are kept today. Similar armorial seals have been recorded from Cambridge (SF-43A30C) and Northampton (IHS-0BB4C1). This seal was purchased from a collector in France, but said to have originally been found in England.
OBJECT: Seal Matrix
CULTURE: Medieval
DATE: c. 13th century AD
MATERIAL: Bronze
SIZE: 21mm diameter x 7mm
WEIGHT: 6.39 grams
PROVENANCE: From a private collection of seals, Troyes in France, originally found in England.
