CODE | Material |
Standard
|
Price | |
oR0577 | see description | Hand-made | 13.00 EUR |
|
How old?: 1350-1400.
Finding place: Sluis.
Details: h.: 64mm w.: 37mm.
Meaning: It could be a pilgrim sign from Mont St. Michel in France (Normandy) but it
differs in style from badges from that place. Name Michael (Mika'el) in translation from
Hebrew means "who but God". These are words of Archangel when he attacked rebellious
Lucifer. Michael is angel responsible for special God's orders. He is a protector of the
Church, conqueror of evil powers, he accompanies soul going to the Last Judgement. On
badge he is pictured at moment when God's Hand prevents him from killing defeated evil,
symbolized by dragon. This could be symbol of God's mercy, compassion and grace.
Pewter badges were first introduced as pilgrim souvenirs from different places of
Christian cult around Europe and the Holy Land. The earliest findings of this type comes from
about second half of XII th. century, fall of their popularity is beginning of XVI th. century.
They're closely connected with development of pilgrimages among Christians. Pilgrim
badges were a solid prove of finishing a long journey to places were once saints lived. About
XIV th. century secular badges also appeared.
ATTENTION: dates showed in this catalogue tells only how old was the material used for the
original. It doesn't mean that the badge was used only then.
The pewter badges as well as their descriptions are provided to us by Bartosz So³tysiak who bases them on historical sources.