Angel with Heart Brooch

The angel and the heart clue you in that this brooch crosses over between religion and romance. But so does the overall M shape which references both Maria (the Blessed Virgin) and Minne (courtly love). Many medieval  brooches, both devotional and amorous, in base and precious metals, take this form. A beautiful love token.

The original was found on the Billingsgate foreshore in London, and is not dated. On the basis of style, 14th or 15th century.