Cloth seal.

Easylife · Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:15 pm

It looked a bit more purposeful than the other scrap lead and a light clean up showed it to be the remains of a post medieval 30mm cloth seal. The design is a wreath with what appears to be a strung up animal within?

Blackadder43 · Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:49 pm

If i were to hazard a guess on the animal i would say it resembles a pig....
Cant think what bag seal would need a pig emblem though?

joemole · Wed Jan 20, 2021 8:03 pm

Blackadder43 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:49 pm If i were to hazard a guess on the animal i would say it resembles a pig....
Cant think what bag seal would need a pig emblem though?

Which side is the head ? Left or right . Left looks like a pig right looks like a fox or ferret . ??or a cat

Easylife · Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:23 pm

I've just had a look using a loupe and it looks like a ram facing left.
"The suspended sheep represents a woollen fleece signifying the woollen cloth trade."
So likely from Ghent, Belgium.
Some similar:
http://www.bagseals.org/bagseals_001_00 ... ceSeal_001
http://www.bagseals.org/bagseals_001_00 ... eClothSeal

Blackadder43 · Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:31 pm

Rams head makes sense now looking again with me reading glasses on

You can just make out the curl of the horns....
Also makes more sense for a bag seal...

I really need to give up on ID stuff

...my imagination runs riot with me

Easylife · Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:50 pm

Blackadder43 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:49 pm If i were to hazard a guess on the animal i would say it resembles a pig....
Cant think what bag seal would need a pig emblem though?

Pork scratchings!

Saffron · Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:27 pm

Easylife wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:23 pm I've just had a look using a loupe and it looks like a ram facing left.
"The suspended sheep represents a woollen fleece signifying the woollen cloth trade."
So likely from Ghent, Belgium.
Some similar:
http://www.bagseals.org/bagseals_001_00 ... ceSeal_001
http://www.bagseals.org/bagseals_001_00 ... eClothSeal

As soon as I saw it I though "Sheep", although Easylife had already got the ID by the time I saw it.

Think about it, its a "cloth seal" ...... most cloth is made from wool.

Normally with seals and tokens there is some connection between the trade (or location) and the design of the seal /token.

But seeing this seal as I am on the edge of the Cotswolds where in medieval times the wealth was generated from wool from the Cotswold Lion (a now rare breed of sheep famous for its long wool) I do wonder if there could be any from this area with a sheep on it?.

Evan

Easylife · Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:08 pm

Saffron wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:27 pm As soon as I saw it I though "Sheep", although Easylife had already got the ID by the time I saw it.

Think about it, its a "cloth seal" ...... most cloth is made from wool.

Normally with seals and tokens there is some connection between the trade (or location) and the design of the seal /token.

I think I have also found tailor's buttons with a similar design, so it figures.