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Main page / Collections / Study collection / Department of Coins and Medals / Sigillography Collection /

Sigillography Collection

In addition to medals and monies of all shapes and forms, the Department of Coins and Medals of the National Museum in Warsaw also features some non-numismatic exhibits. Among these is the brilliant Sigillography Collection numbering over 17,000 items – imprints, stamp impressions and seals of tremendous academic and historic significance. Most of the items are from private collections which were donated to the museum before the war.
 
Among them are Medieval seal matrices, seal impressions on documents dating back to the 15th century, signet ring stones emblazoned with noble coats of arms, and personal seal matrices with coats of arms made from semi-precious stones and having beautifully crafted handles. Very interesting in the collection is a set of 19 th century brass casts of Medieval seals.

The collection is one of the largest of its kind in Poland and spans royal and ducal seals, ecclesiastical seals, seals belonging to clergymen and private individuals, and municipal and guild seals. The seals of rulers are distinct for their high-quality matrix images and reflect the technical abilities of goldsmiths in their respective periods. Although royal and ducal seals are well known from many impressions left in wax and on paper, very few of the original matrices survive to this day – largely due to the custom of destroying seal matrices during the funeral of a deceased monarch.