St Thomas Becket

ID:

80.82/5

Production date:

Late Medieval; 14th-15th century

Location:

In Store

This badge, in the shape of a four-leaf clover, is possibly a pilgrim badge from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Religious objects from shrines were often linked to other lucky symbols to make them more powerful. Four-leaf clover badges are known from Canterbury, sometimes with the letter ‘T’ for Thomas inscribed on them. This badge, however, is plain. It features four veined leaves with another four-leaf clover in the centre.  < ...Read more

This badge, in the shape of a four-leaf clover, is possibly a pilgrim badge from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Religious objects from shrines were often linked to other lucky symbols to make them more powerful. Four-leaf clover badges are known from Canterbury, sometimes with the letter ‘T’ for Thomas inscribed on them. This badge, however, is plain. It features four veined leaves with another four-leaf clover in the centre.

Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118. He became a royal official and a great friend of King Henry II. He was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. He argued with King Henry II, and fled to France in 1164. Thomas Becket returned to Canterbury in 1170 and was killed in the cathedral by four knights who thought this would please the king. People were outraged at the murder of an archbishop on holy ground and Becket was made a saint. He became one of the patron saints of London. Many Londoners travelled to Canterbury to pray at the shrine there and bought badges and ampullae (small bottles for holy water) as souvenirs of their pilgrimage. < Hide

Measurements

DM 30 mm

Materials

lead alloy

Last Updated

2024-03-14