Badge of the Black Prince

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This openwork, tin-lead badge is a powerful piece of medieval political propaganda. It shows Edward of Woodstock, the ‘Black Prince’, who was the son of the King of England, Edward III. He is depicted kneeling in armour before God the Father and the crucified Christ. God gestures to the Prince’s shield of arms, which appears to descend from heaven, held by an angel. Behind him, another angel holds his military helmet.

The whole scene is encircled by the insignia and motto of the Order of the Garter. The Order constituted a hand-picked company of barons who were loyal to Edward III.

Low-cost badges were an excellent means of sharing political ideologies: its iconography communicates the sanctity of the English royal line and its military ambitions, as well as the instrumentality of its relationship with the chivalric community.

Date: ca 1348-76 H. 103mm X w. 78mm

Museum no: O.A.100

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=45776&partId=1