Saxon & Medieval — Late Medieval; 15th century
Boar; Richard III
Livery badge, probably of King Richard III, in the form of a boar standing on a grassy base. The boar has a row of bristles on its back and large tusks. Its back legs are damaged. Before Richard III became king he was the Duke of Gloucester and took a white boar as his emblem. The choice of this symbol may be partly a play on words ('bore' is an anagram of the word 'Ebor', which was the Latin word for York) as Richard's family were from the House of York, a branch of the English royal family. In 1483, the royal wardrobe accounts show that thousands of boar badges were ordered for Richard III's coronation in July and his son's investiture as Prince of Wales in September. Pewter boar badges may have been worn by bystanders watching these processions and ceremonies.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 90.255/5
- Object name:
- Boar; Richard III
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Late Medieval; 15th century
- Material:
lead alloy, tin alloy, peweter
- Measurements/duration:
- H 19 mm, W 30 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.