Cloth Seal, Clothier's Seal, Leeds, JW

Cloth Seal, Clothier's Seal, Leeds, Clothier's Seal, Fleece, JW, Image & Found by Mike Harding.

"A seal I found just south of Reading Berkshire. It is about 30mm in diameter on the plain side and 25mm in diameter on the decorated side. It was found in a field that has thrown up a few George III coins plus a few Victorian ones. It weighs 14gms."

JW ligature, suspended fleece above, LEEDS below, Rope border around // (1)054 / line / 36(2?)

A two disc cloth seal with rope border containing JW in an ornate monogram, suspended fleece above and curved inscription LEE[DS] below. The other side is blank but has been scratched with (1?)054 above a horizontal line and 36(2?) beneath.

The suspended sheep or ram represents a wool fleece which is part of the coat of arms of Leeds City.

It is probably the seal of a Leeds clothier perhaps from the eighteenth or early nineteenth century from the style of the lettering.