PILGRIM BADGE

A lead alloy pilgrims badge of medieval or early post medieval date. The object is lozenge shaped in plan with a beaded border. In the centre of the object are the letters IHS in Gothic script inside an incised framing border. The letters are the Christogram representing the Latin for "Jesus the Saviour of Man".

The rear of the object is slightly concave with an integral pin attached. The pin projects out from the top edge of the rear of the brooch before turning at a 45 degree angle. It is sub-rectangular in cross-section and tapers to a point. The catchplate which appears to be complete curves to the right (viewed facing) in two parts with a wedge shaped cut out of the centre. The badge has a light brown to mid grey patina and is in good condition.

Dimensions: 27mm in length, 26mm in width, 1mm thick, 4.60g

The IHS Christogram was popularly used in the medieval period featuring on objects such as DOR-4535F7 a finger ring from Warmwell, Dorset and on pilgrim badges such as SWYOR-5DC01E from Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire.

Lozenge shaped pilgrims badges depicting Henry VI are recorded on the PAS database such as SF-37F174 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/748694 and LON-48E271 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/518954

IHS is known from circular pilgrims badges such as LIN-FD4722 https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/556094 and SWYOR-5DC01E https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/708569

Currently a parallel combining the lozenge shape with the letters IHS is unknown from the examples recorded on the PAS database.

For more on pilgrim's souvenirs see Spencer, B, Salisbury & south Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 2, 1990.