Saxon & Medieval — Late Medieval; late 15th-early 16th century
Our Lady of Willesden?
Pilgrim badge, probably from the cult of Our Lady of Willesden. The badge depicts the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus Christ within a crescent moon. The moon’s ever-changing nature is meant as a contrast, to highlight Mary’s steadfastness. Mary holds Christ on her left and a sceptre over her right shoulder. Her head is missing.
Over 300 badges like this one have been found in London. The badges are rarely found outside of London, suggesting that the pilgrimage was based on a London centre, most likely to be Willesden, judging by documentary evidence for the popularity of the pilgrimage. The parish church at Willesden had a statue of the Virgin Mary that attracted many pilgrims. Archaeological dating of the badges shows that the cult had a brief but massive following in London around 1500.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 8696
- Object name:
- Our Lady of Willesden?
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Late Medieval; late 15th-early 16th century
- Material:
- lead alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- H 20 mm, W 23 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.