PILGRIM BADGE

An incomplete Medieval lead alloy pilgrim badge depicting a right facing cockerel grasping and pecking at an ear of wheat, dating from AD 1400-1550. The cockerel has an ample comb, wattle and abundant tail feathers, the wings are folded by its side. Its right foot grasps the wheat stem and its left leg is raised in a strutting pose. The reverse of the object has an integrally cast projecting pin and catch, it is undecorated with a mould line visible on the head and tail.

Spencer (1998:318) writes "By the 14th century the cock was everywhere recognised as a symbol for lust and adultery. 'Cocky' still meant lecherous in the 16th century. Similarly, the Flemish word 'haenken' was used to denote woman-chaser and French women made concoctions to restore 'l'ardeur des coqs' to impotent husbands (M Jones, pers comm; Jones, M 1991, 192-5; 1994a 204-6). As early as 1300, the appropriately named cock Lane outside Newgate was one of the objectives of those in search of prostitutes (Thomas, A H 1924, 218;1926, 188), among whom, doubtless, was Langland's Clarice of Cokkeslane (Kane & Donaldson 1975, verse 318), and the young men of London wore cockerel badges to advertise their virility and, perhaps, their availability."

Cockeral badges can be found in Van Beuningen, H. J. E, Koldeweij, A. M. and Kicken, D. (2000:418 Afb.1811-1812) and Spencer (1998:316 fig 315-316)

Dimensions: length: 29.93mm; width: 28.22mm; weight: 3.47g

Reference: Van Beuningen, H. J. E, Koldeweij, A. M. and Kicken, D. 1993. Heilig en Profaan 1. 1000 Laatmiddeleeuwse insigne suit openbare en particuliere collecties. Rotterdam Papers 12. Uitgever, Cothen.

Van Beuningen, H. J. E, Koldeweij, A. M. and Kicken, D. 2000. Heilig en Profaan 2. 1200 Laatmiddeleeuwse insigne suit openbare en particuliere collecties. Rotterdam Papers 12. Uitgever, Cothen.

Spencer, B. 1998. Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges. The Stationery Office, London.