HAMP-F66368: Late medieval/early post-medieval mount (pelican badge)

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MOUNT

Unique ID: HAMP-F66368

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A cast copper-alloy artefact in the shape of a bird: technically a mount, but probably a Catholic badge (or symbol). The upper surface is moulded in the form of what is probably a pelican 'vulning herself'. That is, with wings raised and pecking her breast. The artefact is well decorated with feathers delineated on the wings, along with tail feathers and a ?crest on the head. At the breast are possible drops of blood. There appear to be old breaks below where legs or something else may have emerged. The lower surface of the artefact is generally flat and rather corroded. An area of slightly higher concretions just within the wing section is probably the remnant of a lug or spike used for attachment. Pelicans shown in this act are often part of a wider scene, on a nest feeding their young with their blood. This is known as a 'pelican in her piety'. A lead badge depicting this can be found in Spencer (1998, 171-72; refs. 192, 192a). It is also found on seal matrices, some harness pendants, misericords and finger-rings (see below, Notes). Although it is unclear as to whether this represents the full pelican 'in her piety', the use of the pelican as a religious symbol does suggest a late medieval/early post-medieval date.

Notes:

The 'pelican in her piety' has its roots in the Bible (Psalms, 102:6). The import of the pelican, thought to be a creature of solitary habits dwelling in Egypt, was developed by Christian commentators. Essentially, the pelican chicks were held to attack their parents as they grew older; the parents, in response, struck back and killed the chicks. However, on the third day the mother pelican drew her own blood which, pouring over the dead chicks, brought them back to life. The pelican was interpreted as Christ, Egypt, the world; the bird's solitary nature as emblematic of Jesus' unique birth from a virgin. The death meted out to the chicks was the death meted out to pagan beliefs by Christ's words, and their three days' death, terminated by the shedding of blood, was Christ's blood shed to save mankind.

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1550

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 28.5 mm
Width: 19.7 mm
Thickness: 3.85 mm
Weight: 5.5 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 30th March 2008

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: E2381

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Uncertain

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Hampshire (County)
District: East Hampshire (District)
To be known as: Langrish CP

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Spencer, B.	1998	Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges	London	Medieval Finds from Excavations in London 7	171-72	192, 192a

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: HAMP
Created: 15 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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