MEDIEVAL SEAL MATRIX

Incomplete cast copper alloy seal matrix, circular inplan and flat in section,with the inscription[...S'PETRIK'] ASKRIMANIsurrounding the central image of two addorsed birds, with their backs to each other, either side of a foliate motif, perhaps a floral stem. This pattern and motif comes from Islamic tradition and is typically seen on 14th-century floor tiles (Geoff Egan pers comm). The back of the matrix has the remains of theridge handleandloopat the top end for suspension.Saunders (1991) illustrates a similar circular seal matrix with double-headed eagle on page 37, Fig.7, No.24, which is dated to c.1300, and similar tiles with the same motif on page 129, Fig.35, Nos.104-110 which are dated from the 13th to the 15th century.