Christ; Five Wounds

Pilgrim badge or amulet from an unknown shrine depicting the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ. Various places, such as Westminster Abbey, had relics of Christ’s blood, some of which were said to have been collected from his wounds. These relics became pilgrimage destinations and inspired souvenir badges. The cult of the Five Wounds and the Holy Blood was popular in the 15th century and several badges found in London commemorate it. This badge is in the form of four lobes, each with a hole in the centre. There is a roundel in the middle of the badge. There may have been four more roundels projecting from the edge of the badge at the junction of the lobes but these have snapped off.