Seal impression (cast)

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This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the obverse of the 2nd seal of Inchaffray Abbey in Perthshire, dating from the 14th century.

The seal depicts an eagle, the symbol of St John, with spread wings within a carved panel. It holds a scroll in its mouth which bears the first line of the Gospel ('In the beginning was the word'). The inscription identifies the abbey, which was built on an artificial island. The gold border is modern cardboard trim.

Seals are evidence of the paperwork involved in running a complex organisation. They were signs of the medieval Church's huge authority, combining the functions of signature and logo to show that documents were genuine.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-755-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.1353
• Date: Date of cast: 19th century; Date of seal: 14th century
  
• Material: Sulphur; brown. Inscription: S' COMVNE : ECCE : SCI . IOH' IS : EWANGELISTE . DE INSVLA . MISSARVM
  Seal / cast
  
• Dimensions: 74 mm D
  
• What: Seal / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Inchaffray
  
• Event:
• Description: Brown sulphur cast of the obverse of the 2nd seal of Inchaffray Abbey, 14th century
  
• References:
  • Stevenson and Wood, i, p. 184, no 124 
  • Stevenson, J.H. and Wood, M. Scottish Heraldic Seals - Royal, Official, Ecclesiastical, Collegiate, Burghal, Personal, vol i. Glasgow, 1940, p 184, no 124. 
• Translations:
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