Badge, pilgrim badge

Devotional badge of St Dorothy in the shape of a basket of fruit. St Dorothy was one of several virgin martyrs who were particularly revered in the 14th and 15th centuries. She is said to have been executed in the early 4th century by the Roman emperor Diocletian. After her martyrdom a basket of apples was sent from Heaven to convert a lawyer who had declared that Dorothy would not enter Paradise. This badge depicts the basket, which had become one of St Dorothy’s emblems. It would have been worn to keep the wearer from harm as St Dorothy was believed to protect people from storms, fire and sudden death.