Peacock

Part of a hollow-cast figure of a peacock, which has been suggested to be a pilgrim souvenir from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Several complete peacocks with a figure of a bishop, presumed to be St Thomas Becket, on their backs are known so it is possible that this fragment is a Becket souvenir. Peacocks were symbols of immortality in medieval times. They also represented vows or promises. There are other examples of figurines of peacocks without a bishop figure on their backs, or with other animals on their backs. As this figurine is incomplete, its identity as a Thomas Becket souvenir is uncertain.