Saxon & Medieval — Late Medieval; mid 15th century
Seal of the Brewers' Company
This fine silver seal die shows the Assumption (raising to heaven) of the Virgin Mary. She stands in a cloud of glory surrounded by angels, with God above her head. The Latin inscription 'Sigillum: communitatis misteri: braciatorum: londini:' ('seal of the community of the mystery of brewers of London') runs around the die, with a scroll of barley ears. This is the seal of the Brewers' Company, which they acquired after the royal charter, issued to them by King Henry VI in 1437, first granted them the right to a 'common seal'. This seal would have been used by the Company to authenticate documents. The seal's highly religious design would make it unfashionable, indeed suspect, after the Reformation in the mid 16th century.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- A11013
- Object name:
- Seal of the Brewers' Company
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Late Medieval; mid 15th century
- Material:
silver
- Measurements/duration:
- H 60 mm, DM 62 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.