Cloth Seal, French, Fleur de Lis - House of Artois

Cloth Seal, French, Fleur de Lis, House of Artois*, Image by Derfel, Found by Peter Olivant.
Found on Thames Fore Shore, 16mm.

A shield bearing 5 fleur de lis with a label in chief // missing

A label generally denotes that the arms are borne by an eldest son. The arms have not been traced but they are surprisingly close to the arms of France!

*From Philippe Lanez, "I would suggest the coat of arms is for the House of Artois."

The House of Artois became extinct in the male line in 1472 which suggests this is a very old seal but the design may have been continued to be used in some unofficial capacity.