Cloth Seal, Gloria in Excelsis, Image & Found by Dinsmanas.
Found in Lithuania, 25 x 40mm.
Complete four disc seal (in two pieces), inner discs showing - Double rose // angel in pleated dress with palm leaf in left hand and garbe or torch? in the right hand, inscription around - GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
The image does not make what is being held by the angel clear and other objects such as hour-glasses and horns are known to be held on these types of seals.
A series of this type of seal with the arms of London on the other disc is recorded in Geoff Egan, Lead cloth seals and related items in the B.M. (B.M.occ.papers 93), p.41-3. They are dated from 1620's - early 1700's. This seal is different in having a double rose on the other disc which was used from Tudor times onwards.
It is interesting to see this evidence of English cloth being traded to Latvia probably around the time of its transition from Swedish to Russian rule.
There could possibly be a connection with the Germanic merchants' seals - BSG.CS.00373.
