Medieval Silver Seal Matrix. Circa, 12th-14th century AD. 5....

Hammer

£67,000

Medieval Silver Seal Matrix. Circa, 12th-14th century AD. 5.53 g, 29.6mm. An exceptional seal matrix set with a Roman intaglio of red stone (possibly jasper or  carnelian) with an engraving of a young satyr running to the left with another, smaller satyr with a tail and horns kneeling on his shoulders. The oval intaglio is set in the centre of the matrix within a grooved oval border which also frames the base of the surrounding inscription which reads:  + CREDE . SOLVM. ET . EST.  SATIS.  ‘Believe only and it is enough/sufficient’. The phrase is part of the Mass for the Annunciation, from a chant known as the 'Missus Gabriel de Celis'. PAS recorded: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1092517
Notes:
Martin Henig (2008) discusses the reuse of ancient intaglios in medieval seals and states that such objects were often employed as privy or counter-seals by officials and were more intimate and personal in nature than their official counterparts.