Sigillography facts for kids

This picture shows a pine resin seal on a vellum tag from an English deed (a legal paper) made in 1638.

Sigillography is the study of seals that were used on important papers and documents. It's like a detective's job, but for old seals! This field helps us learn a lot about history. It's connected to other studies like diplomatics (the study of old documents), heraldry (the study of coats of arms and family symbols), social history (how people lived in the past), and the history of art.

This interesting field of study began in the 1400s. It was started by people who loved to study old artifacts and objects. Sigillography became more popular in the 1500s and 1600s. At first, people thought it was just a small part of studying old documents. But over time, it grew into its own important area of study.

What is a Seal?

A seal is usually a piece of wax, metal, or clay that has been pressed with a special stamp. This stamp often has a unique design, like a picture or words. Seals were used in the past to:

• Prove that a document was real and official.
• Show who sent a letter or document.
• Keep a letter or package secret until it reached the right person.
• Mark ownership of something important.

Seals were like signatures and security locks all in one!

Why Study Old Seals?

Studying seals helps historians in many ways:

• Dating Documents: Seals can help us figure out exactly when a document was made.
• Identifying People: The designs on seals often show who owned them, like kings, queens, or important families.
• Understanding Art and Design: Seals are tiny works of art! They show us the styles and symbols popular in different times.
• Learning About Power: The size and design of a seal could show how important or powerful someone was.
• Discovering History: Sometimes, seals are the only clues we have about people or events from long ago.

How Seals Were Made

Making a seal was a careful process. First, a special tool called a "matrix" or "die" was carved. This matrix had the design of the seal on it, but in reverse (like a stamp). Then, soft material like melted wax, lead, or clay was pressed onto the document. The matrix was then pressed into the soft material, leaving a clear impression of the design. Once the material hardened, the seal was complete.

Materials Used for Seals

• Wax: This was the most common material. Different colors of wax were used, sometimes to show different ranks or purposes.
• Metal: Lead was often used for official documents, especially by popes and rulers. Gold and silver were used for very important papers.
• Clay: In ancient times, clay was used, especially in places like Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Images for kids

• 

  These are drawings from the 1800s of the seal of Richard de Clare ("Strongbow"), Earl of Pembroke (who lived from 1130 to 1176).

• 

  This is the title page from a book about seals called Sigilla comitum Flandriae, written by Olivier de Wree in 1639.

See also

In Spanish: Sigilografía para niños