Cloth Seal, Dye Seal, London Dyers Company Arms, Three Axe Arms

Cloth Seal, Dye Seal, London Dyers Company Arms, Three Axe Arms, Image & Found by Andy Mcculloch.
Found in Bedfordshire, 25mm.

Shield bearing 3 axes, AYNSWORTH around // shield bearing chevron engrailed, three madderbags, W·SI(G·SOC·)TI(NCT)O·R(LON)DON· around

On one side displays the arms of Aynsworth and the other has the arms of the London Dyers' Company - a shield with chevron engrailed and three madderbags around which can be seen the remnants of SIG SOC TINCTOR LONDON - seal of the Guild of Dyers of London and directly above the shield on this seal is the letter W presumably indicating woad. It is most unusual to have a family name & arms so clearly associated with a guild cloth seal.

See Nos.267 & 268 Fig.35, Geoff Egan, 'Lead cloth seals and related items in the B.M. (B.M.occ.papers 93)'