MEDIEVAL PILGRIM BADGE

1350

Fragment of a Medieval pewter miniature sword sheath, part of a pilgrim badge, lower end only, hollow-cast to contain a separate model sword. One face decorated with bordering lines and tidy lozenges each containing a single pellet, above fine oblique cross-hatching, the other face has the remains of two lozenges (each containing traces of an obscure possible device) reserved on a field of fine oblique cross-hatching. The model sword represents that of Richard le Bret, the murder weapon of St Thomas Becket, the original of which was exhibited to pilgrims at the site of his martyrdom. cf. Spencer (1998), 93-9, no.69. Late 14th-15th century.