English Medieval Silver Chessman Type Seal Matrix for Christine de Wattone
Early 15th century A.D. A substantial silver chessman-type seal matrix with pierced trefoil finial, four points close to the rim for alignment; central cinquefoil with pointillé edges, groups of three pellets between petals, border with Lombardic script legend '* SIGILLVM : CHRISTINE DE WATTONE' (seal of Christine of Watton). 14.7 grams, 24 mm (1 in.). The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s.Found at the village of Repps-with-Bastwick near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK, before 20 February 1996.Anonymous vendor, Phillips, 20 February 1996, lot 12.Matrix Collection catalogue no.0193.Many of the seals within the collection were published in a book titled 'The Matrix Collection', by David Morris in 2012.Accompanied by a copy of the illustrated collection notes. The market town of Watton is sited in Norfolk and, during the pre-Conquest reign of Edward the Confessor, supported two manors.