Seal impression (cast), of Bishop William de Bondington

This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the Counter Seal of William de Bondington, Bishop of Glasgow, dating from around 1233. Counter seals were the reverse of seals, but often of a different size and matrix from the obverse.

The seal depicts a bishop kneeling before St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo). This is one of the earliest representations of the saint. The inscription '+ ORA PRO NUBIS BEATE : KENTEGERN' translates as 'Pray for us St Kentigern'. The gold border is modern cardboard trim.

St Kentigern built the first church in Glasgow in the 6th century. In the 12th century, a cathedral was begun on the site, with a number of rebuildings over the next centuries. Much of the surviving eastern end of the cathedral dates from William de Bondington's time.

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