Badge with Mary and two women
This badge is unique. The depiction has been identified as Virgin and child with pilgrims, but evidence suggests this is a depiction of the Holy Kinship
Depicted on the open-work badge is a crowned Virgin Mary with the Christ-child in front of her. Usually Mary usually holds the Child on one of her arms. Next to her are two women with children on their arms. Experts have suggested that Mary is depicted here with two female pilgrims with their children. Presumably the badge was purchased in a hitherto unknown pilgrimage site where a miraculous statue of Mary answered to prayers of mothers regarding their children.
However the two women next to Mary both seem to have a halo or nimbus. If this is the case, they are saints. Presumably this is a Holy Kinship in miniature. This is a depiction of Christ’s family. This theme - Christ with his mother, aunts and nephews - was very popular in de 15th and 16th century. It is known primarily via paintings and sculpted reliefs.
The founding mother was Anne who, according to tradition, was married several times. During her first marriage to Joachim, she had Mary, the mother of Christ. From her second husband she had daughter named Mary Clopas. According to tradition, Mary Clopas became the mother of James the Less, Simon, Jude the Apostle and Joseph. From Anne's third marriage came Salome who had two sons: John the Apostle and James the Great. The latter was buried in Santiago de Compostela. All of these were, according to tradition, cousins of Christ.
Summarizing, the badge may be a depiction of Mary and her two half-sisters Mary Clopas and Salome, each with a son. The fact that the figures seem connected by the tendrils below strengthens this theory. The tendrils, like a family tree, indicate these figures are related.
Due to the open-work shape the badge should be dated after 1400.
Image: British Museum, OA.660 (Kunera no. 25480)