People of Medieval Scotland
1093 - 1371

Seal-Matrix: Patrick, earl of Dunbar (d.1289) (counterseal 2)

Owner
Patrick (III), earl of Dunbar (d.1289)
Matrix Shape
oval
Image description (obverse)
Second counterseal of the earl, formed from an antique gem *intaglio* matrix, and depicts a lion preying on a stag, below a star of six points.
Image description (reverse)
Legend (obverse)
IE SV SEL DE AMVR LELL (“I am the seal of true love”).
Legend (reverse)
Catalogue
P/Dunb/5/2C
Notes
Stevenson and Wood describe this as the reverse of a double-sided seal, but it was certainly single-sided; the earl’s first and third seals were both single-sided, and the supposed reverse of this seal has significantly smaller and differently-shaped dimensions than those described here. That it was a counterseal described here is confirmed by Stevenson and Wood’s own note that it was engraved from an antique gem. Dimensions: 7/8 × 13/16 in. SW II, p.335.