Seal impression (cast)

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This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the seal of the burgh of Rutherglen in Lanarkshire, dating from the 15th century.

The seal depicts a vessel with two men, one rowing and the other furling the sails. The inscription 'FIRMVM TRANQVILLV DE RVGLEN IVGE SIGILLVM' translates as 'The faithful seal of Rutherglen, calm and never failing'. The gold border is modern cardboard trim.

Rutherglen was founded in the 12th century, long before its neighbour Glasgow. During the Middle Ages, it was the more important of the two. Glasgow was the religious centre and Rutherglen the commercial and political centre.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-743-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.1999.845
• Date: Date of cast: 19th century; Date of seal: 15th century
  
• Material: Sulphur; brown. Inscription: FIRMVM TRANQVILLV DE RVGLEN IVGE SIGILLVM
  Seal / cast
  
• Dimensions: 62 mm D
  
• What: Seal / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Rutherglen
  
• Event:
• Description: Brown sulphur cast of the obverse of the 1st seal of the Burgh of Rutherglen, depicting a lymphad, 15th century
  
• References:
  • Stevenson and Wood, i, p. 79, no 247 
  • Stevenson, J.H. and Wood, M. Scottish Heraldic Seals - Royal, Official, Ecclesiastical, Collegiate, Burghal, Personal, vol i. Glasgow, 1940, p 79, no 247. 
• Translations:
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