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Recording seal matrices on the PAS database, May 2013

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This document provides guidance for recording seal matrices on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. It discusses recording principles, terminology, documentation standards, and search techniques. Key points include using consistent terminology like "SEAL MATRIX" not just "SEAL"; documenting material, shape, size, decoration, and parallels; and searching by description text as well as filters. Photographs should have good lighting and projected views. The document aims to improve the quality and consistency of records.

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Recording seal matrices on the Portable Antiquities Schemes database CPAT-0791F5 + S: MADOC: F: WIL
Recording principles for the PAS database The record replaces the object itself, just as a context record replaces a dug-away archaeological context The record must give enough evidence to allow the reader to mentally re-identify the object, just as a well- published archaeological site allows the reader to mentally re-excavate it The record must be consistent with other records, so that we can be sure of retrieving every record that we need, even from a really giant database
Total number of medieval seal matrices recorded during 2012: 322
Seal matrices
Use the term SEAL MATRIX dont use SEAL
Seal: A piece of wax, lead, paper etc, with a stamped design, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity. Seal matrix: The object used to make impressions in wax as seals. Definitions from the scope notes on the mda/English Heritage Archaeological Objects thesaurus
Dont use SEAL for a cloth seal either use CLOTH SEAL
Signet rings use FINGER RING, with signet in the classification field NMS-7021D8 SF-91E9C6 IOW- 49E466
Recording seal matrices on the PAS database, May 2013
The Finds Recording Guide: short doesnt cover every aspect often out-of-date
Consulting other records: gives useful comparanda/context improves consistency (although beware of drift)
Recording seal matrices on the PAS database, May 2013
Recording seal matrices on the PAS database, May 2013
HANDOUT 5: MODEL OBJECT DESCRIPTION N.B. NOT ALL OF THESE ASPECTS CAN BE RECORDED FOR ALL OBJECTS. THIS MODEL DESCRIPTION DOES NOT REFER TO A REAL OBJECT. identification material (of each component, including rivets) surface treatment method of manufacture shape size and weight (measurements in mm and g) decoration reverse completeness wear wear on the breaks colour of the metal corrosion and loss of surface components date and period parallels These aspects do not, of course, have to be recorded in this order.
HANDOUT 5: MODEL OBJECT DESCRIPTION N.B. NOT ALL OF THESE ASPECTS CAN BE RECORDED FOR ALL OBJECTS. THIS MODEL DESCRIPTION DOES NOT REFER TO A REAL OBJECT. identification SEAL MATRIX material (of each component, including rivets) MADE FROM COPPER ALLOY surface treatment GILDED ON THE REVERSE method of manufacture MADE BY CASTING AND ENGRAVING shape POINTED-OVAL IN SHAPE, FLAT IN CROSS-SECTION size and weight (measurements in mm and g) 23mm LONG AND 12mm WIDE decoration WITH THE CENTRAL MOTIF OF A SIMPLE ENGRAVED CROSS reverse WITH A RAISED LONGITUDINAL RIB ON THE REVERSE ENDING IN A ROUNDED PIERCED LUG completeness ONE END BROKEN AWAY wear NO OBVIOUS WEAR wear on the breaks FRESH BREAK colour of the metal GREY-GREEN GLOSSY PATINA corrosion and loss of surface WITH A FEW GREEN CORROSION BUBBLES components date and period MEDIEVAL, 13TH CENTURY parallels COMPARE NMS-123456, DENO-987654
HAMP-71E530 DOR-9A4472 NMS-1D5176 A variety of conical seal matrices LIN-EAD042KENT- A8BAC7
SF-014730 IOW-7AA036 Orientation marks
Common and rarer shapes for flat seal matrices Circular Pointed-oval (not vesica-shaped, and certainly not vessica-shaped) Shield-shaped (describe the shape of the shield) Lozengiform or lozenge-shaped (not diamond-shaped)
ESS-6BE1D6 silicone-based dental impression compound WMID-CB9991 Fimo baked in oven Impression materials IOW-1F1242 and SUSS-E2E004 Dass air-drying clay
Why not take four or five impressions while you have the Dass out of its bag, or the oven on for the Fimo? One for the finder One for yourself to keep, or to deposit in your museum One to send to Helen One to give to John Cherry to thank him for all his help over the years One more just in case
LVPL-A19123 Dry and cracked Dass, making the impression harder to read ShENRICI FIL MVRAG (?) NCL-EBD002 ..PELLI TOMNE
BUC-6E6D40 HAMP-CED0B0 NLM-EA2BD4 SWYOR-C76613 Agnus Dei (Lamb and Flag) motifs
LIN-D66B72 S'ROBERTI PELERIM NARC-750251 KENT-95C138 IOW-1F1242 Four-petalled flower. Four-leafed clover. Quatrefoil. Four beech leaves. Four-armed folate cross. SUSS-386942
SF3906 S' WILL: LE. OFFICIEL Found at Blaxhall, not far from the Suffolk coast
LVPL-9E9384 S. ROB. FIL. AL. PILAT (Seal of Rob[ert] son of Al[an] Pilat) engraved groove on the matrix, ridge on the impression
BH-2577D5 PUBLIC-2A4516 WMID-4439E7
Roman capitals Lombardic lettering Black-letter script Renaissance capitals (post- medieval)
Extracts from an article in Archaeologia vol. 79 (1929) on the lettering of seal matrices, by H. S. Kingford
blown up and reversed LON-865A52 Ligated letters A and L, and F and R
NMS-DE4EB2 揃: seel : sitte : : dalemaigne : (Seal of ?Seth DAllemagne) WILT-5F2594 sigillum sub decanat ecclie sari (Seal of the sub-deacon of the church of Salisbury) Black-letter seal matrices of the late 14th to early 16th centuries HESH-F166B5
You can search here for first names, even if you can only read S and a few other letters Thanks to Andrew Rogerson for finding this website!
By-names can be family names (like modern surnames) or nick-names including: patronymics (Roberti fil Johis, Marie fil Willelmi) place-names (Robert de Dunham, Henrici dEsex) occupations (Justin le Coteler, Walteri Clerici)
Reaney and Wilson Ekwall
Harvey and McGuinnesss list of anonymous mottoes on seal matrices
The inscription reads x PRIVE SV (I am private). KENT-0E2BC3 NCL-779217 The inscription reads +. SIGILL' . GERARD FIL. MABILE (Gerard son of Mabel).
In the text: + SGALFRIDI. MVI (or L) ChE (Seal of Geoffrey Muiche or Mulche) In the inscription field simply repeat the inscription: + SGALFRIDI. MVI (or L) ChE
Unfinished seal matrices LON-37E577 SWYOR-3A9A82 40 records use the word unfinished 53 records use the word blank LIN-D693A7
LVPL-35AD66: a copper-alloy mould for making conical seal matrices LON-476DD1: a mis-cast matrix
SUR-8A3643 BUC-E18B17 IOW-CFD665
WMID545 LVPL2064
WILT-0274F8 HESH-F1566B5 NMS-C007E1 Cut and cancelled
Photographing seal matrices make the lighting as good as possible light and photograph the impression separately if necessary check that the projection is correct check that the images are the same size
HAMP-DF3F47 ESS-EAFDE5 Bad lighting Good lighting
Photographing seal matrices make the lighting as good as possible light and photograph the impression separately if necessary check that the projection is correct check that the images are the same size
When combining views onto one image, check that they are all the same size.
IOW-54F605 Basic set of views projected correctly plus a flipped horizontal version (mirror-image) and the photo of the impression Dont include just the flipped image without comment, as we might think that the matrix was carved backwards.
How to search easily for seal matrices start with words from the description field in the simple search box then filter by object type (SEAL MATRIX) and period (EARLY MEDIEVAL) add other filters e.g. county, material
+ S: SABINE: VXOR: IOhIS (Seal of Sabina wife of John). NMS-F81B75

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Recording seal matrices on the PAS database, May 2013

  • 1. Recording seal matrices on the Portable Antiquities Schemes database CPAT-0791F5 + S: MADOC: F: WIL
  • 2. Recording principles for the PAS database The record replaces the object itself, just as a context record replaces a dug-away archaeological context The record must give enough evidence to allow the reader to mentally re-identify the object, just as a well- published archaeological site allows the reader to mentally re-excavate it The record must be consistent with other records, so that we can be sure of retrieving every record that we need, even from a really giant database
  • 3. Total number of medieval seal matrices recorded during 2012: 322
  • 5. Use the term SEAL MATRIX dont use SEAL
  • 6. Seal: A piece of wax, lead, paper etc, with a stamped design, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity. Seal matrix: The object used to make impressions in wax as seals. Definitions from the scope notes on the mda/English Heritage Archaeological Objects thesaurus
  • 7. Dont use SEAL for a cloth seal either use CLOTH SEAL
  • 8. Signet rings use FINGER RING, with signet in the classification field NMS-7021D8 SF-91E9C6 IOW- 49E466
  • 10. The Finds Recording Guide: short doesnt cover every aspect often out-of-date
  • 11. Consulting other records: gives useful comparanda/context improves consistency (although beware of drift)
  • 14. HANDOUT 5: MODEL OBJECT DESCRIPTION N.B. NOT ALL OF THESE ASPECTS CAN BE RECORDED FOR ALL OBJECTS. THIS MODEL DESCRIPTION DOES NOT REFER TO A REAL OBJECT. identification material (of each component, including rivets) surface treatment method of manufacture shape size and weight (measurements in mm and g) decoration reverse completeness wear wear on the breaks colour of the metal corrosion and loss of surface components date and period parallels These aspects do not, of course, have to be recorded in this order.
  • 15. HANDOUT 5: MODEL OBJECT DESCRIPTION N.B. NOT ALL OF THESE ASPECTS CAN BE RECORDED FOR ALL OBJECTS. THIS MODEL DESCRIPTION DOES NOT REFER TO A REAL OBJECT. identification SEAL MATRIX material (of each component, including rivets) MADE FROM COPPER ALLOY surface treatment GILDED ON THE REVERSE method of manufacture MADE BY CASTING AND ENGRAVING shape POINTED-OVAL IN SHAPE, FLAT IN CROSS-SECTION size and weight (measurements in mm and g) 23mm LONG AND 12mm WIDE decoration WITH THE CENTRAL MOTIF OF A SIMPLE ENGRAVED CROSS reverse WITH A RAISED LONGITUDINAL RIB ON THE REVERSE ENDING IN A ROUNDED PIERCED LUG completeness ONE END BROKEN AWAY wear NO OBVIOUS WEAR wear on the breaks FRESH BREAK colour of the metal GREY-GREEN GLOSSY PATINA corrosion and loss of surface WITH A FEW GREEN CORROSION BUBBLES components date and period MEDIEVAL, 13TH CENTURY parallels COMPARE NMS-123456, DENO-987654
  • 16. HAMP-71E530 DOR-9A4472 NMS-1D5176 A variety of conical seal matrices LIN-EAD042KENT- A8BAC7
  • 18. Common and rarer shapes for flat seal matrices Circular Pointed-oval (not vesica-shaped, and certainly not vessica-shaped) Shield-shaped (describe the shape of the shield) Lozengiform or lozenge-shaped (not diamond-shaped)
  • 19. ESS-6BE1D6 silicone-based dental impression compound WMID-CB9991 Fimo baked in oven Impression materials IOW-1F1242 and SUSS-E2E004 Dass air-drying clay
  • 20. Why not take four or five impressions while you have the Dass out of its bag, or the oven on for the Fimo? One for the finder One for yourself to keep, or to deposit in your museum One to send to Helen One to give to John Cherry to thank him for all his help over the years One more just in case
  • 21. LVPL-A19123 Dry and cracked Dass, making the impression harder to read ShENRICI FIL MVRAG (?) NCL-EBD002 ..PELLI TOMNE
  • 23. LIN-D66B72 S'ROBERTI PELERIM NARC-750251 KENT-95C138 IOW-1F1242 Four-petalled flower. Four-leafed clover. Quatrefoil. Four beech leaves. Four-armed folate cross. SUSS-386942
  • 24. SF3906 S' WILL: LE. OFFICIEL Found at Blaxhall, not far from the Suffolk coast
  • 25. LVPL-9E9384 S. ROB. FIL. AL. PILAT (Seal of Rob[ert] son of Al[an] Pilat) engraved groove on the matrix, ridge on the impression
  • 28. Extracts from an article in Archaeologia vol. 79 (1929) on the lettering of seal matrices, by H. S. Kingford
  • 29. blown up and reversed LON-865A52 Ligated letters A and L, and F and R
  • 30. NMS-DE4EB2 揃: seel : sitte : : dalemaigne : (Seal of ?Seth DAllemagne) WILT-5F2594 sigillum sub decanat ecclie sari (Seal of the sub-deacon of the church of Salisbury) Black-letter seal matrices of the late 14th to early 16th centuries HESH-F166B5
  • 31. You can search here for first names, even if you can only read S and a few other letters Thanks to Andrew Rogerson for finding this website!
  • 32. By-names can be family names (like modern surnames) or nick-names including: patronymics (Roberti fil Johis, Marie fil Willelmi) place-names (Robert de Dunham, Henrici dEsex) occupations (Justin le Coteler, Walteri Clerici)
  • 34. Harvey and McGuinnesss list of anonymous mottoes on seal matrices
  • 35. The inscription reads x PRIVE SV (I am private). KENT-0E2BC3 NCL-779217 The inscription reads +. SIGILL' . GERARD FIL. MABILE (Gerard son of Mabel).
  • 36. In the text: + SGALFRIDI. MVI (or L) ChE (Seal of Geoffrey Muiche or Mulche) In the inscription field simply repeat the inscription: + SGALFRIDI. MVI (or L) ChE
  • 37. Unfinished seal matrices LON-37E577 SWYOR-3A9A82 40 records use the word unfinished 53 records use the word blank LIN-D693A7
  • 38. LVPL-35AD66: a copper-alloy mould for making conical seal matrices LON-476DD1: a mis-cast matrix
  • 42. Photographing seal matrices make the lighting as good as possible light and photograph the impression separately if necessary check that the projection is correct check that the images are the same size
  • 44. Photographing seal matrices make the lighting as good as possible light and photograph the impression separately if necessary check that the projection is correct check that the images are the same size
  • 45. When combining views onto one image, check that they are all the same size.
  • 46. IOW-54F605 Basic set of views projected correctly plus a flipped horizontal version (mirror-image) and the photo of the impression Dont include just the flipped image without comment, as we might think that the matrix was carved backwards.
  • 47. How to search easily for seal matrices start with words from the description field in the simple search box then filter by object type (SEAL MATRIX) and period (EARLY MEDIEVAL) add other filters e.g. county, material
  • 48. + S: SABINE: VXOR: IOhIS (Seal of Sabina wife of John). NMS-F81B75