Code: 13023
This is a wonderful medieval bronze seal dating to the 14th century AD. It displays a heater shield emblazoned with the coat of arms of a diapered fretty, in use by the Anglo-Norman Audley family of Staffordshire. The name of the owner of the seal is written in Lombardic script, reading as " *S:Beranguiera.Aude Da Vida" . This would translate as "the seal of Lady Berengaria Audeley, widow". In medieval England, a widow was supposed to remarry quickly, so this seal would have been in use for a short time whilst she maintained the estate, lands and castle, which at this time would have been Heighley Castle in Staffordshire (home of the Audley family for 300 years).
OBJECT: Seal Matrice
CULTURE: Medieval
DATE: c. 1280 - 1380 AD
MATERIAL: Bronze
SIZE: 27mm tall x 21mm diameter
WEIGHT: 15.04 grams
PROVENANCE: From a private collection of seals, Troyes in France
