{"product_id":"byzantine-empire-lead-document-seal-c-500-to-1100-ce-eastern-europe","title":"Byzantine Empire, Lead Document Seal - c. 500 to 1100 CE - Eastern Europe","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"hh-backorder-notice\" data-hh-notice=\"small-box\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePLEASE READ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Our shipment of small display boxes has been delayed. \u003cstrong\u003eSmall display boxes are currently out of stock and are expected to arrive around October 1st.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can still \u003cstrong\u003epre-order items that include a small display box.\u003c\/strong\u003e These items will \u003cstrong\u003enot ship until the display boxes arrive.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-orders receive $5 off each delayed item.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn-stock items in the same order will ship immediately as usual.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese Byzantine lead seals, or \u003cem\u003ebullae\u003c\/em\u003e, were used to authenticate documents, ensuring that they had come from their official sender and had not been tampered with. Each has a unique design used by a specific individual, similar to a modern day signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most common seals were marked with inscriptions or monograms, usually in Greek. Less common were iconographic seals, which often depicted imagery of Christ, various Saints or the Virgin Mary. The use of seals in the Byzantine Empire was limited until about the 7th century CE, although they eventually saw widespread use by all social classes, including local government, the military, the church, nobility, and even the emperor himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeals were made with a variety of different materials, including gold, silver, and wax, though most surviving seals were made from lead. The casting process involved the use of a tool called a \u003cem\u003eboulloterion\u003c\/em\u003e, which pressed small, blank lead disks onto strings attached to the document that was being sealed. This tool looked\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e similar to a pair of pliers, and was also used to imprint the user's unique inscriptions or imagery onto the lead. Preserved examples of boulloteria are rare, as they were typically destroyed upon the death or retirement of their owner for security purposes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEach includes a \u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity \u003c\/strong\u003eand is guaranteed genuine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"History Hoard","offers":[{"title":"Include display case (+$0.00) \/ Average Grade: partial details \u0026 some corrosion","offer_id":67690491871363,"sku":"gyd1791343595304","price":24.84,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Include display case (+$0.00) \/ Higher Grade: better details \u0026 cleaner surfaces","offer_id":67690491904131,"sku":"wce1791343595305","price":35.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No display - just the coin and certificate\/info card (save $15.00 each) \/ Average Grade: partial details \u0026 some corrosion","offer_id":67690491936899,"sku":"udd1791343595306","price":21.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"No display - just the coin and certificate\/info card (save $15.00 each) \/ Higher Grade: better details \u0026 cleaner surfaces","offer_id":67690491969667,"sku":"ssn1791343595307","price":36.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0646\/8504\/7939\/files\/byzantine-empire-lead-document-seal---c-500-to-1100-ce---eastern-europe_1.png?v=1791343602","url":"https:\/\/www.zavuneri.com\/products\/byzantine-empire-lead-document-seal-c-500-to-1100-ce-eastern-europe","provider":"Zavuneri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}