Lead Bale or Cloth Seal

These lead seals were used throughout Europe between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries for identification and quality control of the article contained within. Each of these was stamped with a unique design to identify its origins. This seal bears the design of a six petalled flower. This is a common design but the presence of these seals perhaps provide further evidence of Hugh Clopton’s mercantile associations. 

An additional model of a seal with the design of 4 concentric circles, each joined to the next by a series of spokes can be accessed here: https://sketchfab.com/Centre-of-Archaeology/collections/shakespeares-new-place