Medieval Badges: Their Wearers and Their Worlds

Medieval badges were brooch-like objects made of tin-lead alloys that were mass-produced and inexpensive. They were widely circulated throughout Europe in the High and late Middle Ages, usually small, and often associated with specific charismatic or holy sites. About 75% of surviving badges are closely associated with pilgrimage, while others were artifacts of secular life, political devices, or tokens of love or friendship. The popularity of badges grew steadily from the twelfth century to the fifteenth century, with 20,000 surviving today. Archaeologists and hobbyists continue to make new finds, often along muddy riverbanks in northern Europe. Medieval Badges is an interdisciplinary book that explores the manufacture, preservation, and scholarly study of these artifacts, providing an expansive introduction for a wide readership.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2022
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Medieval badges, crafted from tin-lead alloys, were readily available and affordable, resembling brooch-like objects adorned with familiar imagery. These badges were widely circulated throughout Europe during the High and late Middle Ages, typically measuring around four-by-four centimeters in size. However, some examples were as small as two centimeters, while others reached up to ten centimeters in length. Interestingly, approximately 75 percent of surviving badges have strong connections to specific charismatic or holy sites, indicating that they were worn by individuals who had successfully completed a pilgrimage. On the other hand, a significant portion of badges were not solely associated with religious purposes but rather reflected secular aspects of life. Some served as political symbols, such as a swan, stag, or rose, representing membership in civic organizations or elite families. Others, such as a garland, clasped hands, or crowned heart, symbolized love, friendship, or other forms of emotional connection. A considerable number of badges remained enigmatic and even obscene in nature. The popularity of badges experienced a gradual rise in the last decades of the twelfth century, peaking towards the end of the fifteenth century. Historians estimate that as many as two million badges were produced during this period alone. Despite the passage of time, archaeologists and hobbyists continue to uncover new findings, frequently along muddy riverbanks in northern Europe. Medieval Badges, an interdisciplinary work, presents a comprehensive exploration of badges in all their diverse forms and applications. Author Ann Marie Rasmussen examines medieval badges, irrespective of their religious or secular origins, and highlights the various ways in which these badges could convey meaning and identity to their wearers. Drawing upon evidence from England, France, the Low Countries, Germany, and other regions, Rasmussen provides a rich and detailed account of the history, symbolism, and cultural significance of these intriguing artifacts.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812253207