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Description: | Late medieval copper alloy pilgrim badge of 15th to mid 16th century dateThe pilgrim badge is complete (with a length of 25.8mm and a weight of 3.0g) but the surface is heavily-worn. The open-work decoration is in cast-relief (with a thickness of 1.8mm) and depicts the annunciation, or the announcement to Mary by the Angel Gabriel that she is to become the mother of Christ. Mary is depicted on the left, seemingly kneeling at a prie-dieu with the folds of dress evident to the sides of the prie-dieu. Mary has her left arm raised to her breast and right arm on the book and with her head angled to the left, surmounted with a halo containing radiating ribs, now worn. Above the head is a dove with its head projecting downwards towards Mary. Gabriel is depicted standing opposite, with wings projecting beyond the head and shoulders (giving the badge a maximum width of 24.9mm) and is shown holding the messenger's staff in his left hand. Between the two figures is a floral or vegetal device, probably a jar of lilies, representing purity. The figures are joined by the basal ground and dove at the apex. There is an integral, circular-sectioned attachment loop (with a width of 5.4mm, a depth of 6.1mm and with a wire diameter of 0.7mm) on the rear of the lily and towards the top. Otherwise, the rear is flat and is undecorated. The original surface has been lost and is brown to bronze-coloured.The badge can be closely paralleled with a small group of copper alloy badges recorded with PAS from Manuden in Essex[1], Ipsden in Oxfordshire[2] and Fulford in Yorkshire[3]. All four badges are likely to have had a common production site for an uncertain shrine but possibly dedicated to the Virgin. Previous records have stated that Egan has suggested that the tripartite aspect of the badge has significance and may represent the letter 'M' or 'W'. [1] Watters,J (2012) BH-199D37 A MEDIEVAL PILGRIM BADGE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/522050 [Accessed: 28 Nov 2013 10:07:16][2] Williams,D (2013) SUR-FFF175 A MEDIEVAL PILGRIM BADGE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/556186 [Accessed: 28 Nov 2013 10:08:36][3] Downes,A (2010) SWYOR-7707F7 A POST MEDIEVAL PILGRIM BADGE Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/282846 [Accessed: 28 Nov 2013 10:10:32]
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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