#IBMakingArt
The Art piece I selected was the Pilgrim's Badge of the Shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury. It dates back to 1350-1400. The Badge is made of Cast tin-lead alloy. The dimensions of the work overall are 3 1/8 x 2 1/2 x 1/8in. (7.9 x 6.4 x 0.3cm).
The badge was likely made and purchased during the mid 1300s in Canterbury, England. The badge shows the premier shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.Thomas Beckett was the Archbishop of Canterbury before he was murdered in 1170. He publicly disagreed with Henry II, King of England over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after his death he was venerated as a saint. His shrine became a pilgrimage site almost instantaneously. Throughout the Middle Ages Christians went on pilgrimages to be closer to God, fulfill a vow, expiate a crime, seek a miraculous cure, or to deepen one's faith.Badges like the one above were inexpensive souvenirs, and often made of impressed pewter. Pilgrim's badges were purchased by the faithful at holy sites as evidence of their journeys.
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