THE SEAL OF THE AUGUSTINE FRIARS OF AMIENS, FRANCE

Seal Detail

An 18th century brass alloy desk seal for the Augustine Friars of Amiens, the handle comprising a rectangular brass fin pierced with two asymmetrical holes, also engraved with three marks "XXI", the oval matrix engraved with a pictorial scene of a stone prison in front of which is a saint decapitated and fallen, with the inscription below: ST IVLIEN.  Behind St Julien is the executioner in Roman garb and holding the sword aloft with the inscription alongside: SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus).  From the clouds above emanate flashes of lightning out of which an angel descends bearing Julien's crown and sword of martyrdom.  An outer circumscription within a lined border reads:

SIGIL. CONVEN. AMBIANENSIS. ORDIN. EREM. St AVGVSTINI +

The Conventual Seal of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine in Amiens

The monastery is no more, but a street name survives: Rue des Augustines - it runs north-south, a block or so east of the cathedral and south of the river.  The seal depicts the execution of St Julien (St Julian of Auvergne), a secret Roman army officer who was put to death in the 3rd century bear Brionde (south of Clermont Ferrand).  

Seal Specification

Height:  18mm

Diameter of matrix:  47mm x 55mm 

Weight:  81g