Left is Bruton's seal and right is Merton's. Merton's, from 1241, has finer workmanship, and it's likely that Bruton's was a copy, or derived inspiration from Merton's. I think that Merton's was the inspiration for a number of seals, including that of Nicholas Farnham, Bishop of Durham. In 1241, Merton was at the height of its powers, being used for royal administration, and being a centre for learning.
The similarities are the Virgin and Child, although she does not hold the virga; the 'windows' with canons' head peeking through; the canopy over the BVM and Child, even with the little rosettes in between the spires. Her throne is different, and it rests on another canopy, under which are canons praying to her. On either side of her, above the panels, are a star and moon. Both the star and moon and the praying figures are fashionable features, and can be seen on various institutional and episcopal seals from the period. No one seems to have made a comprehensive study of these...yet... but I'm working on it! It's impossible to say whether the Bruton seal was from the same workshop, or was a provincial copy. Bruton was nowhere near as wealthy as Merton, and Merton's seal must have cost a lot. I think Kingsford must be right that Merton's seal was made in the workshop that supplied King Henry's seal(s). Could Bruton have afforded a seal by the king's workshop? On the other hand, the Bruton seal is also very fine (I'll try to get a better picture of both seals soon). Perhaps someone was related to someone.
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