Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

An early 14th century silver seal matrix, finely carved to depict a Lady standing on a plinth beneath a gothic canopy, facing left, and wearing a long robe and outer cloak, her headdress tied under the chin, her right hand raised, a hawk perched on her left hand, within outer legend: ‘s’agacie d’ :talemaehe’, with suspension loop to the reverse, dimensions 35 x 21mm. £2,000-£3,000

The seal matrix was found by the vendor’s father on his farm in Suffolk in the 1960’s.

The seal translates as ‘the seal of Agacie Talemache’ which is derived from an old French word meaning ‘knapsack’. The English noble family of Talemache were first found in Suffolk, owners of a Manor house at Bentley, near Ipswich, and later at Helmingham Hall. They have had an important influence in East Anglia both politically and economically since the reign of Edward I.
An impression of a seal of Alice Talemache is recorded in the Public Records Office (Reference P774).

In the Middle Ages, hawking was a popular pursuit amongst wealthy noble women.