PENDANT

A complete jet pilgrim souvenir, probably a pendant, of Post-Medieval date. The object is scallop shaped with a centrally-projecting standing bearded figure and a flat reverse. A circular perforation transversely pierces the jet behind the head of the figure presumable to aid with attachment.

The object is 18.9mm long, 16.5mm wide, 7.6m thick and weighs 1.3g.

The scallop shell was the symbol of St James, the patron saint of Spain whose shrine is at Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrimage to this site was popular from the 12th - 18th centuries so St James was often depicted as a traveller, carrying a staff and wearing a hat. Objects such as this would signify that pilgrims had completed their journey reaching the shrine of St James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Jet is found in different parts of Europe and North America, but the two richest regions are Whitby and northern Spain. As this object is likely to have been purchased at the shrine it seems reasonable to conclude that such objects are indeed Spanish in origin. The information attached to a similar example from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection (http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89334/st-james-the-greater-badge-unknown/) states that "many seem to have formed beads of rosaries" and that jet was thought to hold "medicinal and indeed magical qualities".

Further similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database, such as SUR-5DBDA8, SUR-A6D001 and WAW-CFDD74 each of which date to the 15th - 16th centuries and suggest that such objects were set into a frame. There is no evidence however that the current example was treated in such a manner.