LOT 0349

Medieval Bronze Personal Seal Matrix of John de la Pole, Second Duke of Suffolk, Constable of Wallingford Castle and High Steward of Oxford University

14TH-15TH CENTURY A.D.

3/4 in. (8.7 grams, 19 mm).

The circular high-quality die bearing a central star/sun over crescent moon with concentric pelleted borders enclosing Latin legend in Lombardic script: 'S' IOh' D' LA POLE CANP'; probably the counterseal of John de la Pole, Second Duke of Suffolk, of facetted hexagonal-section stem with pellet trefoil to show orientation when in use, collar and pentagonal suspension loop; accompanied by an impression. [No Reserve]

Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Wantage, Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, UK, between January and May 2011.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-749E31.

This seal has been designated of 'County / local importance' in the PAS record, which provides the following interpretation of the inscription: 'The second Duke of Suffolk was John de la Pole, born 27th September 1442. He was Constable of Wallingford Castle and High Steward of Oxford University. He also held the manors of Deddington and Ascot in Oxfordshire from 1477 A.D. He died c. 24th July 1492 (Richardson 2011:48-49). His mother, Alice Chaucer, was the granddaughter of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer (author of the Canterbury Tales). Alice, who died in 1475/76 A.D., is buried in her home village of Ewelme, where the de la Poles spent much of their time. John de la Pole's official seal is recorded in the British Museum Catalogue of Seals (1894:398), and is described as 'a lion rampant queue fourchée'. The matrix now offered is likely to be a personal seal, such as were often used for private correspondence or as a counterseal, when applying a seal of office.