Seal impression (cast), of Bishop William Fraser

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This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the seal of William Fraser, Bishop of St Andrews, dating from around 1292.

The seal depicts the bishop in a carved Gothic niche. The fragmentary inscription 'S'WILLI:FRASER:DEI GRA SCOTTORV:E...' identifies the bishop. 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: 000-180-001-803-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.1999.981
• Date: c. 1292
  Date of cast: 19th century; Date of seal: Around 1292
  
• Material: Sulphur; brown; vesica; inscribed. Inscription: S'WILLI:FRASER:DEI GRA SCOTTORV:E...
  Seal / cast
  
• Dimensions: 82 mm L x 53 mm W
  
• What: Seal / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who: William Fraser, Bishop of St Andrews
  
• Where: Scotland, Fife, St Andrews
  
• Event:
• Description: Vesica-shaped, brown sulphur cast of the seal of William Fraser, Bishop of St Andrews, inscribed `S'WILLI:FRASER:DEI GRA SCOTTORV:E...` depicting the bishop in a niche, c. 1292
  
• References:
  • Stevenson and Wood, i, p.85, no.22 
  • Stevenson, J.H. and Wood, M. Scottish Heraldic Seals - Royal, Official, Ecclesiastical, Collegiate, Burghal, Personal, vol i. Glasgow, 1940, p 85, no. 22. 
• Translations:
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