Cloth Seal, Norwich, Tubular, LII, LS ligature, Image by StuE, Found by Nasher.
Found near Baldock, Hertfordshire, 21 x 12mm, 4.4g.
LII in sub-rectangular depression // SL or LS ligature
Late sixteenth to seventeenth century tubular cloth seal with Roman numerals that very probably refer to the length of the cloth, 52 yards. This type of seal was typically used by the Dutch immigrant weavers, and, despite having no markings that indicate its place of origin (the Dutch weavers plied their trade in several locations), it is very similar to one recorded as originating from Norwich [Egan, G., 1995, No.95, Fig.23]. It differs from that one only in lacking the beaded rectangular border (also present on BSG.CS.00218). This one also bears a clear ligature on the reverse. BSG.CS.00219, found on the Thames foreshore, may well have traces of the same ligature.
Probably coincidence but similar SL monograms are found on Dutch Den Bosch seals.
