Star with emblem of the Passion

This pendant is in the form of a star with 16 wavy rays (four are missing). The rays form a circular frame around a central disc. The disc is made from glass with a shiny metal backing and would have been a mirror (mirrors were used on some pilgrim souvenirs to catch the reflection of holy relics at a shrine and so absorb some of their power). The metal backing is inscribed ‘IHS’ (the monogram of Christ) and is decorated with a pattern of dots within circles. The frame has 4 clips to secure the disc, though two clips are now missing. This star pendant represents the Star of Bethlehem and may be a pilgrim souvenir from an English shrine that possessed a relic of the Nativity of Christ. Possible shrines include Canterbury Cathedral, which had Christ’s crib among its relics and Peterborough Abbey, which had his swaddling clothes.