Badge "Devil with bagpipes", Netherlands, 15th century
This distinctive badge depicts a devilish figure playing the bagpipes, referring to the contemporary connection between music, worldly entertainment and wickedness. The badge probably belonged to musicians or music-related craft guilds, and may have served as a symbol of profession, satire or ironic insight into human frailty.
In medieval iconography, the devil was often depicted in a humorous or cautionary context, and its association with music - especially wind instruments such as bagpipes - could symbolize worldliness, passion, or mockery.
The badge is cast in brass, measuring 40 × 60 mm, and comes from what is now the Netherlands, where the production and wearing of such artefacts was widespread among musicians, pilgrims and townspeople.
Based on the book 'Sieraad en devotie in middeleeuws Vlaanderen' by Jose Kolderweij.
Brass casting. Dimensions: 40 × 60 mm.
- Made in Ukraine by Armour and Castings
Related products
