Crucifix

Pilgrim badge, possibly from the shrine of the Holy Face at Lucca in Italy or from Bermondsey Abbey. This crude badge depicts a rood (large crucifix) with pairs of stitching loops at the end of each limb (not all the loops have survived). The top limb is completely covered by Christ’s head which is oval in shape with two bulbous eyes. The figure of Christ appears to be wearing a robe with horizontal stripes. Various crudely-made rood badges with stitching loops have been found in London. Usually they are decorated with the figure of Christ in a long robe, which is very similar to the way he is depicted on Lucca badges. However, there is a possibility that the miracle-working rood at Bermondsey Abbey was a copy of the Holy Face of Lucca and that these poorly-made badges are souvenirs from Bermondsey, rather than Italy.