PILGRIM BADGE

Medieval copper alloy pilgrim's badge of 15th or 16th century date
The badge depicts the bust of Thomas Becket from the Canterbury pilgrimage and probably associated with the head reliquary. The badge is complete (with a length of 40.5mm, a basal width of 25.3mm, a thickness of 0.4mm - 3.9mm and a weight of 6.9g). Thomas is depicted full-face wearing a mitre surmounted with a cross, comprising four peripheral pellets and larger central pellet. The sides of the mitre are enhanced with three protruding knops and the interior has linear along the sides, through the centre and above the brow containing rows of pellets. The hair is depicted protruding each sides from below the mitre. Thomas' face is slightly raised with the staring eyes defined by pointed oval grooves and the nose protrudes to the front. The stern mouth is defined by a single linear moulding. Thomas' garment or amice has diagonal collars defined by a strip containing pellets and meeting at the centre with a larger pellet. A double column strip, also containing pellets run from the collar to the basal band of similar decoration. Folds in the amice are represented by diagonal ribs of differing weights. The sides are near-straight, slightly convex without the shoulders being clearly defined. The pellet decoration may have represented the jewels and precious stones on the head reliquary. There is no evidence to suggest that there was a frame around the bust. The rear has an integral pin protruding from the apex (7.1mm long and giving an overall depth of 6.5mm), of triangular section and remains in place. Beneath the pin and continuing to the base is a clear casting seam. The surface of the badge has a pale to mid-brown corrosion and has some wear.

The bust of Thomas Becket refers to the head reliquary (Caput Sancti Thome or Corona), which was located in the eastern chapel of Canterbury Cathedral. Spencer (1998, p 103) notes that although there are diverse mould types differing in finer detail, the generally consistent decoration suggests attempts to portray the reliquaries bejewelled splendour and transfer its significance. Most of the recovered examples are made in lead alloy and the copper alloy composition of this example is comparatively uncommon. A similar badge of Becket's head reliquary in tin alloy was reported from the vicinity in 2010 .