This tiny gold object is an unusual double-sided seal that offers more questions than answers about its past.
The Norwich Museum and Art Gallery has a curios old artifact in its collection, known as the Balthild Seal Matrix. This artifact is an unusual double-sided gold seal that raises more questions than it answers about its past. Upon closer examination, the seal revels contrasting images on its two sides. The front side depicts a woman’s face, while the reverse side portrays an intimate scene featuring two naked figures – a man and a woman embracing beneath a cross. The item itself gives the impression that it was originally attached to a ring, allowing it to swivel on the bar that still runs through its center. The engravings on the seal exhibit a style indicative of an early Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to approximately 648 AD.
The side displaying the woman’s face provides potential clues regarding the origins of the seal as the letters “BALDEHILDIS” in Frankish lettering surround her image. However, the question remains: Who was she? Seal rings from this time period are exceedingly rare and typically belonged to individuals of great importance, such as royals, nobles, and bishops. Thus, it is possible that the depiction represents Balthild, a Frankish queen from the 7th century. According to historical accounts, Balthild was born into the Anglo-Saxon elite but was sold into slavery as a young girl. She served in the household of Erchinoald, the mayor of the palace of Neustria in the Kingdom of the Franks (present-day France). Balthild’s exceptional beauty and intelligence captured the admiration of the Frankish King Clovis II (reign: 639-657), who eventually married her and granted her freedom from slavery. Despite her elevated status, Balthild remained modest and became renowned for her generosity. She established a monastery at Chelles in France and was later canonized as a saint after her death.
The presence of an erotic scene depicting two nude figures sets this object apart as unique for its period in English history. However, it is intriguing to consider whether there is a deeper significance to it. The cross positioned above the couple hints at a possible religious connotation, symbolizing the celebration of the biblical command to “Go forth and multiply”. It is conceivable that Balthild used this side of the seal specifically for closing private correspondence while reserving the opposite side for official documents. Alternatively, the seal may have served an entirely different purpose altogether.
This unusual artifact was discovered in a field in Postwick, Norfolk in 1999. Its location raises the question of why and how it ended up in East Anglia. One possibility is that an overseas representative of Balthild had worn the ring as a form of identification. Another suggestion is that the seal was sent to Balthild’s relatives who remained in the area after her death.
Some speculate that the seal could have belonged to a different Baldehildis altogether. Skeptics challenge the notion that the face depicted on the seal belongs to St Balthild, suggesting instead that it might be a design copied from a Byzantine coin.
Trespasser-on-Earth 