Seal Matrix with Abbot William of Gross St. Martin and Saint Martin

Unknown

before 1152 · Walrus ivory · Medieval Art

Affixing a wax seal to documents both authenticates and secures the document and also identifies the author or sender. According to the inscription, this rare ivory seal matrix, seen here with a wax impression from it, was made for Abbot William (“William, by the grace of God, Abbot of St. Martin”) of the powerful Benedictine abbey in Cologne. Pictured on the reverse is the abbey’s patron, Saint Martin.

Artist

Unknown

Date

before 1152

Medium

Walrus ivory

Culture

German

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917