Badge, livery badge

In City of London companies 'liverymen' traditionally wore a gown and hood to gain entry to the Common Hall, or assembly, at the Guildhall. By the 1760s liverymen were showing a reluctance to wear the traditional gown and so badges were introduced by many companies.

Company Masters continued to wear their gowns until the later nineteenth century when they were issued with badges of office. This one is a 'blank' badge which would have been worn by a Past-Master of the Salter's Company after they had completed their year in office. It was presented to the Guildhall Museum in 1893. The obverse features the arms of the Company and its Latin motto 'Sal Sapit Omnia' (Salt Seasons Everything).