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Description: | A bent and corroded lead pilgrim/secular badge of late medieval to early post-medieval date. No parallel could be found for this piece but it is suggested (Egan, pers. comm.) that the design is derived from the badges issued at the shrine of Henry VI at Windsor, Berkshire (see Spencer, 1998, no. 208; and also Egan, 2005, p. 207-8, nos. 1149 and 1150). Egan suggests that the figure depicted may be Cardinal Wolsey, who was a prominent figure in the campaign to have Henry VI recognised as an official saint. The prominent hat and bible (see below) certainly indicate that the person depicted was someone of high rank.
Interestingly, a second badge was found by the same person, but at a different site - see BH-6E8184. Close comparison of the two strongly suggests that the two are from the same mould.
The condition of this badge is better than that of BH-6E8184, although it is slightly bent. The badge is circular in plan and has a beaded border around the perimeter. The image is in relief and shows a head and upper body of a person, the face (features obliterated) turned slightly to their right. The person wears a large hat the ends of which extend to below the level of the ears. The garment worn has plain arms, a vertically segmented torso section and a prominent, round collar. Unlike in the case of BH-6E8184, the clothing can be observed to extend right to the bottom of the badge. Held within the hands, at the front of the body, is a bible bearing an incised cross. The fields around the figure are filled with a pattern of diamonds, each point having been embellished with a pellet.
On the reverse the pin is missing, but a small protrusion marks its position.
The badge measures 23.45mm in diameter and 2.18mm thick. The weight is 4.78g. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Watters, Julian - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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