PILGRIM BADGE

An incomplete lead medieval pilgrim's badge of St Anne, probably from her shrine at Buxton, dating to the period c. AD 1400 - 1500. The badge depicts St Anne teaching her daughter, the Virgin Mary, to read. The head of the Virgin Mary is broken off. St Anne and the Virgin Mary are both depicted wearing long dresses or robes. St Anne is wearing a veil or headdress. The Virgin Mary is depicted as being slightly smaller than St Anne. Spencer (1998) and Lewis (2015) note that some examples of this type which retain the head of the Virgin Mary, show her crowned, serving the dual purpose of highlighting her role as Queen of Heaven and avoiding showing her as subordinate to her mother.

Four small holes, two near the base and two near the Virgin Mary's waist, are probably additional methods of attachment by stitching. The reverse has a slightly off-centre median mould line, at the base of which are two integral stubs, perhaps remnants of a catch-plate or loop. An incomplete integral attachment pin is sited on the reverse of the Virgin Mary's neck.

St Anne's cult appears to have been particularly strong in the 15th century. In England, relics of St. Anne were claimed at Canterbury, Durham and Reading, although her most famous shrine was at Buxton, Derbyshire.

Height: 36.73 mm, width: 17.52 mm, thickness: 1.06 mm, weight: 5g. In good condition with an even whitish patina.

Cf. Spencer, B, 1998, p. 176 - 177, no. 196c.

Lewis, M, 2015, p. 38.

Similar examples on the database include: SOMDOR148, WILT-85E7A5, CORN-5116C3 & NLM-D36812.