WAX SEALS MADE WITH SIGNIT RINGS

Wax Seals of the House of Harnes

Shown below are wax seals that the medieval lords of Harnes and others used to certify documents. They made these seals using stamps that bore an image of the coat of arms displayed by the owner of the ring. A document would be wrapped in ribbon, and sealed by dripping wax onto the ribbon. Then the lord useda signet stamp, like the one on the left, to make an impression in the wax. These impressions served the same function that signatures do today. Thus, when a lord placed his mark on the wax seal of a document, it was his certification of approval.

The seal of Michel IV of Harnes, Constable of Flanders from an 1181 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17386. He was the first knight of the House of Harnes to bear arms.

The seal of Michael of Boelare, son of Alice of Boelare and brother Phililp of Boelare, from a 1215 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 311.

The seal of Alice of Boelare, wife of Philip of Harnes and daughter-in-law of Michel IV of Harnes, from a 1226 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 1496.

The seal of Michel V of Harnes, the knight-trouvere and son of Michel IV of Harnes, from a 1229 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 2375.

The seal of Hugh IV of Antoing, son-in-law of Michel V of Harnes, from a 1230 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 7052.

The seal of Philip of Boelare, son of Alice of Boelare, from a 1231 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17326.

The seal of John of Harnes, grandson of Michel V of Harnes and brother of Michel VII of Harnes, from a 1288 document in the collection of the the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 7083.

The seal of Aleyde of Boelare, daughter of Philip of Boelare, from a 1294 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17391.

The seal of Michel VII of Harnes, grandson of Michel V of Harnes and brother of Jean of Harnes, from a 1297 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 18990.


A sketch of wax seal imprints used by Michel of Boelare is shown on the left, and seals used by his uncle Michel V of Harnes, the knight-trouvere are shown on the right. An early 13th-century medieval letter bearing wax seal pendants is shown in the middle.

revised February 22, 2017


		The seal of Michel IV of Harnes, Constable of Flanders from an 1181 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17386. He was the first knight of the House of Harnes to bear arms.
		The seal of Michael of Boelare, son of Alice of Boelare and brother Phililp of Boelare, from a 1215 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 311.
		The seal of Alice of Boelare, wife of Philip of Harnes and daughter-in-law of Michel IV of Harnes, from a 1226 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 1496.
		The seal of Michel V of Harnes, the knight-trouvere and son of Michel IV of Harnes, from a 1229 document in the collection of the Archives Nationale (in Paris), no. 2375.
		The seal of Hugh IV of Antoing, son-in-law of Michel V of Harnes, from a 1230 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 7052.
		The seal of Philip of Boelare, son of Alice of Boelare, from a 1231 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17326.
		The seal of John of Harnes, grandson of Michel V of Harnes and brother of Michel VII of Harnes, from a 1288 document in the collection of the the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 7083.
		The seal of Aleyde of Boelare, daughter of Philip of Boelare, from a 1294 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 17391.
		The seal of Michel VII of Harnes, grandson of Michel V of Harnes and brother of Jean of Harnes, from a 1297 document in the collection of the Archives Générales du Royaume (in Brussels), no. 18990.