Flight into Egypt
A collection of badges in the national museum of Prag has been part of the Kunera database for quite a while now. In 2012 the collection was published in a beautiful catalog called 'Jungfrauen, Engel, Fallustiere'. Publication however does not mean that we cannot elaborate on these badges with new information every now and then.
For example, a badge with a figure that was described in the German-language catalog as "Jäger?" is probably Joseph, Jesus's foster father. The badge fragment depicts a male figure. Badge specialist Hartmut Kühne wrote about him: "Der markante Jägerhut und der von der Figur gehaltenen Pfeil (?) könnten zu einer Jagdszene gehört haben." In other words, he suggested that the man may have been part of a hunting scene.
The text on the badge – part of the angelic salutation Ave Maria – surely indicates that the scene involved the Virgin. A comparison with another badge in the Van Beuningen family collection (Kunera no. 16589) clarifies that the figure may have been Joseph, specifically Joseph guiding the ass with the Virgin and Child on its back. The family moved to Egypt on the run from Herod who ordered all young boys to be killed.
On this other badge, found in Sluis, Joseph also stands close to the badge frame. He is wearing a similar hat. Moreover, he carries a long and thin stick over his shoulder, like the Prag figure does. From this hangs a knapsack which identifies Joseph and the entire Holy Family as a travelers with luggage. A large part of the Flight into Egypt is missing from the badge in Prag, primarily the ass carrying the Virgin and Child.
Only Joseph remains. The poor man even has to do without his knapsack.
Image: Prag, National Museum, H2-68.226 (Kunera no. 18320).