C. 14th-15th century

A very interesting example a pewter pilgrim badge of Thomas Beckett on Horseback. These badges were intended to celebrate the next stage in the events following Beckett’s return from exile from Sandwich to Canterbury, which resembles Christ’s journey into Jerusalem.

The complete pilgrim badge would have depicted Beckett seated astride a horse, marked with spots or rounded patches, and studded with ornaments to the saddle cloth and rest of its trappings, including the stirrup straps.

Although a fragment, it has crisp detail and is an interesting piece.

Ref: Pilgrim Souvenirs And Secular Badges by B. Spencer, page 85-87, no. 49a. Possibly from the same mould.

Provenance: Ex Graham Slater Collection, Cambridge. Collected between 1980’s-1990’s.

Size: H: 42mm x W: 67mm