BISHOP THOMAS OF MAN SEAL

MS 2223/11
Text S': THOME: DEI: GRACIA: EPISCOPI: MANNENCIS; SEAL OF THOMAS, BISHOP OF MAN
Description MS in Latin on copper alloy with polished brass colour, Isle of Man, England, 3rd quarter of 15th c., 1 oval seal matrix, 7,4x4,5 cm, 1 line in black-letter script, full-length figure of a bishop holding a staff within an elaborate gothic architectural surround, a smaller three- quarter length figure of the bishop praying in a niche below, pearled inner and outer borders, flat reverse with a slight ridge and pierced handle.
Provenance 1. Thomas, Bishop of Man (3rd quarter of 15th c.); 2. Found Minster, Sheppey, Kent (ca. 1740); 3. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London.
Commentary The bishop is identified by Birch as Thomas Burton (or Barton), 1455-58 ( impressions of the seal are nos. 2532-5, vol. I, p. 420). Another possible candidate is Thomas of Kirkham, former abbot of the Cistercian abbey of Vale Royal in Cheshire, bishop 1458 - c.1480 (A. W. Moore, Diocesan Histories. Sodor and Man, 1893, p. 95). Black-letter script is an angular gothic style script used after 1350.
Published Manuscripts in The Schøyen Collection, ed.-in-chief, Prof. Jens Braarvig. vol. IV: Medieval seal matrices. Ed. by Richard Linenthal and William Noel. Oslo, Hermes, 2004.
See also MS 714, Wax seal, Hungary, 1464
Place of origin Isle of Man
Dates 3rd quarter 15c AD