European History 1500-1800

The problem of dating and establishing the creator of one of the largest Gothic bells preserved in Europe is considered. [in Polish] Artykuł porusza problem datacji i ustalenia twórcy jednego z największych gotyckich dzwonów kołysanych zachowanych w Europie, a zarazem największego dzwonu gotyckiego w Polsce. Jest to pisemna, skrócona wersja prelekcji pod tym samym tytułem, wygłoszonej przez autora 16 lutego 2016 r. w Książnicy Kopernikańskiej w Toruniu, w ramach cyklu „Toruń Miasto Zabytków”.

Sealed and lost: The story of Ingbret Olsen’s seal matrix
In 2009 a copper-alloy seal matrix was found in a field at Koppangøya in Østerdalen. The matrix belonged to a man called Ingbret Olsen, and was identified as the seal matrix used to seal a letter of authorization/proxy delivered to king Christian IV in Oslo in 1591. The letter was sealed by 12 peasants from the northeastern part of Østerdalen in the county of Tynset who held office as jurymen at the Lagting. The owner of the matrix is called Engelbridt Lund in the letter to the king. He is probably a farmer, a tenant on the king’s farm Lunden in Tylldalen, Tynset, listed in the register of taxpayers from the beginning of the 17th century. The seal matrix was found at a former market place where barter trade between people from the mountain valley / mountain area and the rich farming districts further south took place in the Middle ages. It is however uncertain if Koppang still was a market place at the time when Ingbret Olsen lived. Another possible reason that the seal matrix was found at Koppangøya, is that the main road from Oslo to Trondheim passed through this field. The owner may have lost it while travelling on this road. However, since another seal matrix has been found in the same field, this may indicate that some kind of transactions still was taking place at Koppang after the reformation.