By the 12th century the shrine of St James the Greater, at Compostela in Galicia, north-west Spain, had joined Rome and Jerusalem as one of the three great pilgrimages. The scallop shell badge of St James was exploited as a promotional enterprise from the 11th century onwards. By the late middle ages, despite frequent attempts by the Archbishops of Compostela to restrict its use to compostela, the scallop was recognised as the universal symbol of pilgrimage. In this example the image of St James, dressed in pilgrim’s attire, has been incorporated into the design.

Original found in London.

14th- 15th century.

28x 30mm A scallop shell.