SEWISE is formed of the initial letter of
SEals of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England
They usually combine images of various kinds with inscriptions, sometimes identifying the owner.
Made of wax and impressed by a die or matrix they were often attached to or impressed on parchment documents. Sometimes they can be clearly dated and sometimes their dating is elusive.
This website is a free online information exchange of all aspects of the study of seals in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England.
It Includes seals of all periods, and will concentrate on seals made or found in the geographical area.
It will consider all aspects of the use of seals. Not just wax seals on documents, but the implements (matrices, pliers, presses, gems and rings) used to impress them.
All functions of seals for security, sealing bags and containers and spaces, as well as documents and letters will be considered.
It will be concerned with collections of casts and other ways of reproducing seals, such as replicas, prints, photographs, and also the materiality of both seals and the implements used to create them.
Contact: sewisemail@gmail.com