Medieval badge "Folk Festival", Netherlands, 14th-15th century
This badge is dedicated to a Flemish folk festival, the name and the form of celebration of which are directly depicted on the badge itself. The scene depicts a man playing the bagpipes while two others stand or rest, which may indicate the ease, sociability and musical accompaniment of the celebration.
The badge originated in what is now the Netherlands, where similar folk and religious festivals were widely celebrated in the late Middle Ages, often associated with pilgrimages, fairs or patron saint feasts.
The scene is indicative of the linking of secular entertainment with religious or community life, as was common in medieval culture. Badges with this theme could serve as a commemoration of a festival, a symbol of belonging to a particular group or region, or even as a personal reminder of a joyous event.
Based on the book 'Sieraad en devotie in middeleeuws Vlaanderen' by Jose Kolderweij.
Cast in brass. Dimensions: 75 × 55 mm.
- Made in Ukraine by Armour and Castings
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