PILGRIM BADGE

Description: A complete gilded silver late medieval to early post-medieval pilgrim badge or mount. The outer face of the object is moulded to form a central seated female figure wearing a headdress with an infant on her left knee and an older crowned female child standing to her right side, arm stretched in front of the central figure holding something. The reverse of the object is flat and a small, circular wire loop has been soldered to its centre. This loop has now been squashed flat. Gilding covered the outer face and the outer edges of the reverse, but has worn away in places.

Dimensions: Length: 19.72mm, width: 10.82mm, thickness: 5.00mm, weight: 3.34g

Date: 15^th to 16^th century (probably towards the earlier end)

Discussion: The image probably depicts St Anne teaching her daughter, the Virgin Mary, crowned as the queen of heaven, to read (see Lewis 2015, 38; Spencer 1998, 176 - 177, no. 196c.). The badge may possibly come from her shrine at Buxton, Derbyshire, although relics of St. Anne were also claimed by Canterbury, Reading and Durham. Only lead parallels have been recorded by the PAS, including: PUBLIC-341C2D, SOMDOR148, WILT-85E7A5, CORN-5116C3

A number of precious metal badges of similar form, depicting other saints have also been reported under the Treasure Act. These most commonly depict St George slaying the dragon (for example: 2017T397 (CAM-F8E7D1), 2014T601 (BH-D9F03F), 2014 T357 (DEV-482427)) and all have been dated to the 15^th and 16^th century AD. Similar examples in copper alloy have also been recorded by the PAS and are assigned similar date ranges, for example SF-739782, NMGW-62E55B, NMS-3C99D3 and NMS-5BC850. The cult of St. Anne was particularly popular in the 15^th century, further supporting this date.

The object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal and is over 300 years old. Consequently it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.

By Anna Booth SCCAS July 2017

References

Spencer, B, 1998. Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges. London : Museum of London

Lewis, M. 2014. Saints and their badges: Saints' Lives and Medieval Pilgrim Badges. Witham: Greenlight.