This medieval pilgrim badge, shaped like a heart with a crown, is modeled after a historical artifact from the Middle Ages and bears the inscription “Amours” on its ribbon .
The historical model is a pilgrim badge from France dating from 1350–1424. The original is now housed in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts ( Musée des Beaux-Arts) in Valenciennes.
The word “Amours” appears quite frequently on medieval pilgrim badges and means “love.” This suggests that the badge may have served as a token of love between two people in love.
On the reverse side is a sturdy pin, which allows the badge to be attached to clothing.
The Symbolism of the Heart in the Middle Ages
In medieval symbolism, the heart represented goodness, love, and life itself. The heart symbol originates from stylized depictions of fig and ivy leaves, which have appeared in art since the 3rd millennium BCE.
In medieval love literature of the 12th and 13th centuries, heart-shaped ivy leaves began to appear in scenes depicting love. This motif soon spread throughout Europe as a symbol of love and became the model for the modern heart symbol.
- Size: 3.2 x 3 cm
- Material: bronze
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