Medieval bronze seal matrice rough cast / unfinished interesting!

Code: 11767

This is an interesting medieval bronze seal, dating to the 15th century. The seal is of a 'chessman' type, engraved with a central device of letters t.h. The lettering is in Gothic/Blackletter and would date to the 15th - 16th century. It appears the seal was started roughly and then discarded. Perhaps the casting was not sufficient enough and the suspension loop fractured? Either way, we can see the processes involved, including the marking out and design. The matrice is rough on the outside and has not been polished so the patina is also quite patchy. A rare survivor as most would have been recycled for the materials and not lost in a field!

OBJECT: Seal Matrice

CULTURE: Medieval

DATE: c. 15th century A.D.

MATERIAL: Bronze

SIZE: 30.74mm tall x 24.59mm diameter

WEIGHT:  18.15 grams

PROVENANCE: Formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire collector.