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PILGRIM BADGE
Unique ID: PUBLIC-364487
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A Medieval lead alloy incomplete openwork pilgrim badge, dating 14th - 16th century. No parallels can be found in either the English or the continental Dutch books, and it appears to be an unpublished type. Probably it depicts the martyrdom of Thomas Becket (Archbishop of Canterbury), all inside an architectural frame topped by a cross with trefoil terminals.
The frame consists of a triangular headed arch decorated with crockets, and flanked by two trefoil tipped pinnacles (one is incomplete). The lower section of the frame is decorated with a radiated pattern within a beaded border.
Inside the architectural frame and beneath a tower gate, bowing his head Thomas waits for the final sword blow. At his left, there is a standing knight holding a sword, ready to strike. Becket is shown dressed in the Archbishop ecclesiastic costume, including mitre and chasuble with decorated collar. The knight wears a mail hood under his conical helmet.
On the back of the badge there are eight small folded-over triangular tabs. These originally would have secured a thin background, probably in a different material e.g. paper, against the back of the badge. The pin and the pin catch tab are still attached to the back of the badge.
Dimensions: Length: 73.35 mm; Width: 35 mm; Weight: 7.9 g; Thickness:1.1 mm;
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: Regional importance
Class: Becket
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Exactly AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 73.35 mm
Width: 35 mm
Thickness: 1.1 mm
Weight: 7.9 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 29th January 2016
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Openwork
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: London (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Greater London Authority (Greater London Authority)
District: City and County of the City of London (London Borough)
Parish or ward: Bridge (London Borough Ward)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ3280
Four figure Latitude: 51.5035277
Four figure longitude: -0.09955492
1:25K map: TQ3280
1:10K map: TQ38SW
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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