Seal box

Roman seal box, complete. There are traces of enamelling in red and turquoise. The lid is decorated with a heart or leaf-shaped motif. The lid is corroded shut. There are four holes in the base and two on the sides. Originally a cord passed through these holes. The box was then filled with wax which was stamped with a seal by the sender of a letter, or by witnesses to an agreement. These impressions would have been readily identifiable by owners and their correspondents and acted as personal signatures. Opening the document was not possible without the breaking of the seal and therefore acted as a way of ensuring privacy.