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Description: | Medieval lead alloy pilgrim's badge, probably of 15th century dateThe pilgrim badge depicts the bust of Saint Thomas Becket and is complete with some peripheral damage (with a length of 61.0mm and a weight of 7.0g). Thomas is depicted wearing a mitre with a cross patée at the apex. The mitre is decorated with a ring-and-dot motif in cast relief and the front has a vertical panel containing saltire crosses with pellets between the arms and a ring-and-dot between crosses. Thomas is depicted full-face with his hair flanking the sides of his face, which has bent behind on one side. Thomas' eyes stare forward, the nose is sharp and comparatively high and the mouth is downturned with the suggestion of a thin moustache. Thomas' garment or amice has a prominent collar around the neck and rises above the shoulders. The amice is decorated with groups of three ring-and-dots. The base of the badge has a double-oval border. The ring-and-dot decoration was likely to have represented the jewels and precious stones on the reliquary. There is no evidence that the bust was attached to a surrounding frame. The rear of the badge has a prominent central and vertical casting seam. The integral pin is of lozenge section and remains in place. The pin protrudes from the rear at a right-angle before turning at another right-angle, parallel with the rear (giving the badge an overall depth of 10.8mm). An integral catch-plate was used to secure the pin. The surface of the badge has a mid-dark grey patina and is unworn.The bust of Thomas Becket refers to the head reliquary (Caput Sancti Thome or Corona), which was located in the eastern chapel of Canterbury Cathedral. Spencer (1998, p 103) notes that 15th century examples of badges of Thomas commonly have a cross at the top of the mitre and a raised stiff collar, similar to this example. Spencer (ibid.) also notes that head reliquary badges of this period are diverse in mould types but of similar style.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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