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Medieval Red Wax Seal Of The Officiality Of Amiens, France, 13th-14th Century.
A superb, well-preserved round medieval seal in red wax, affixed between the 13th and 14th centuries. It retains its original attachment, a double parchment tail used to connect the seal to the charter it identified. The obverse is marked with an eagle surrounded by the legend "SECRETUM". The reverse is decorated with a trefoil portal supported by two columns topped with fleur-de-lis. The central section is encircled by an inscription reading SIGILLI CURIE AMBIANENSIS followed by a cross.
According to the Somme Departmental Archives, which holds a similar example referenced in the Estienne catalogue of 1922 on page 76, this is the seal of the Officiality of the city of Amiens.
The Officiality of Amiens was the ecclesiastical court of the diocese of Amiens, competent to judge and formalize marriages, wills, and crimes against the faith (heresy, witchcraft, sacrilege), and even the practice of usury (lending money at interest, forbidden by the Church).
This type of medieval seal is very rare on the art market.
Diameter: 4.5 cm.
According to the Somme Departmental Archives, which holds a similar example referenced in the Estienne catalogue of 1922 on page 76, this is the seal of the Officiality of the city of Amiens.
The Officiality of Amiens was the ecclesiastical court of the diocese of Amiens, competent to judge and formalize marriages, wills, and crimes against the faith (heresy, witchcraft, sacrilege), and even the practice of usury (lending money at interest, forbidden by the Church).
This type of medieval seal is very rare on the art market.
Diameter: 4.5 cm.
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