Stamp of Barking Abbey

ID:

587

Original Country:

England

Region:

Essex

Community:

Barking

Sorting Title:

Stamp of Barking Abbey

Subject:

Description: An pointed oval stamp with three trefoil arches flanked by candles in two candlesticks with figures within each arch.
In the center, Erkenwaldus of London is mitered, holds a crozier in his right hand and book in his left. He is flanked by Ethelburga and Hildelitha, both of Barking, both wearing abbess' vestments, holding croziers, one with a crescent moon and the other with a star or sun above her head.
Above, are busts of S.Peter with a key and S.Paul with a sword in his left hand, flanking a veiled Virgin Mary. She sits on a bench, holding a fleur-de-lis surmounted scepter in her right hand, and holding a cross-nimbed Christ Child with his right hand raised, seated on her left knee.
Below, beneath an arch, is the abbess (mutilated), probably Ethelburga of Barking, with crozier.

Border inscription: [SIGILLVM] ...VA... [BA]RKING ...[C]O(N)VENT(VS) ... (P)ROTEGAT IS(TVM).

Creation Date:

1240-1260

Century:

13th

Style Genre:

Gothic

Format Medium:

wax stamp

Current Repository:

London: British Museum

Repository Number:

Birch 2588

Secondary Sources:

Catalogue of Seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum, 433(2588).
Monastic Seals of the XIIIth Century: a series of examples, illustrating the nature of their design and artistic value, selected, introduced, and described, 29-30, pl.XVI(32).

Image Source:

Index of Christian Art

Photo Repo Number:

23 L84 MBr S5,51 101669

Contributor:

Lisa Tom