Ecclesiastical sigillography in the Czech Republic – current situation, themes and perspectives

Abstract

Sigillography is regarded in the Czech Republic as a traditional academic discipline. The history of the field shows, however, that it has yet to welcome the production of a seminal, far‑reaching work. In earlier time, ecclesiastical sigillography was largely neglected, seeing little development until recent decades. The first analytical studies are now appearing which attempt to interpret sigillographical materials in a broader historical context. Researchers are now also turning their attention to modern materials, giving rise to specific terminological and methodological difficulties. This study offers a brief outline of developments in sigillography in the Czech Republic, and particularly ecclesiastical sigillography. In this specific case, it describes the research objectives and the questions beingasked, while outlining proposed solutions.