Two pewter objects with related iconography. The first shows a boat with the Virgin Mary with crown and halo holding the Christ child in one arm and steering the boat the a rudder with the other. The second shows a crowned woman in a boat holding a crowned penis in one hand and with the other hand on a penis that serves as a rudder.

Our Lady of Boulogne-sur-Mer Pendant

$3.50

The Virgin was venerated at Boulogne-sur-Mer because an unmanned boat carrying her statue was reported to have sailed into the harbor there in 633 CE. In this pendant sign the statue is shown with its hand on the tiller to indicate that the Virgin is steering the boat. This sign is meant to be sewn to a garment or suspended from a small brooch with a ring. Ours is copied after an example dated 1400-1500, found in Nieuwlande.

This is one of a relatively small number of pilgrim signs where there are extant parodies, in this case an obscene – and profane – brooch of a woman in a boat that was clearly based on images of Our Lady of Boulogne.

Product details: van Beuningen, H. J. E., and A. M. Koldeweij. Heilig en Profaan [1]. Cothen: Stichting Middeleeuwse religieuze en profane insignes, 1993. No. 440. Kunera No. 00440

Dimensions (H x W):
1 11/16 x 1 5/16 inches
43 x 43 mm

Category: Saints' Badges and Pilgrim Signs Tags: 15th century, Dangles from a Hook or Sews On, Pairs and Parodies, Pins On

Share this!