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Description: | An incomplete lead or lead alloy probable Pilgrim badge of the Medieval period, dating from c. AD 1300 - c. AD 1500.The object is broadly triangular in plan and is rectangular in section. The corners are rounded. The right hand side of the object is missing presumed lost in antiquity. The object has been decorated with a dual border that echoes the shape of the object and has been split with a central raised vertical line and small raised horizontal lines, at the base these are inverted. A central rectangular band echoes the decoration of the sides. These bands form two broadly triangular regions on the surface which have been decorated with raised circular pellets, the left has seven pellets and the right has four. The whole design resembles a Mitre or Bishop's hat.The object measures 32.7 mm in length and is 35.1 mm wide. It has a thickness of 1.9 mm and weighs 8.0 g.The object is a light to mid grey in colour and has an even patina. Abrasion caused by movement whilst within the plough soil may have resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail. It is possible that this artefact could be a fragment, and when complete it would have resembled Spencer (1998) p 120, No 119c or 119d. This type of pilgrim badge is one of a well-known series of badges that are miniature copies of the life-sized enriched mitred-bust reliquary of St Thomas Becket located in Canterbury Catherdral in the 14th century. The bust was adorned with many jewels, which are represented on this lead miniature by the series of moulded pellets. Offerings made at Canterbury Cathedral show that the popularity of the head reliquary peaked in 1420. The badge would have been worn on the hat or on the outer clothing and would have been used as an amulet. The supposed miracle-working powers of reliquaries was also thought to transfer onto the objects copied from them, hence the popularity of pilgrim badges. Other similar examples of this type of artefact have been recorded on the database, including SWYOR-B6B054 and CORN-B19AB3. Ref: Spencer, B., 1998 'Medieval finds from excavations in London: 7, Pilgrim souvenirs and secular badges' London : Museum of London, The Stationary Office, 78
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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