Pewter Tau 15th century

Pilgrim badge from St Antony’s Hospital in Threadneedle Street, London. The badge is in the shape of a Tau cross (a T-shaped cross that resembles the Greek letter Tau). It is beaded around the edge and has a pearl at each outward corner. It is decorated with the words ‘P’siue tau’ (‘Potentia sive tau’). At the base is part of a loop where a bell would have hung. This was probably a reference to the fact that bells were worn by members of the Order of Hospitallers of St Antony to attract alms and that the Order was allowed to let pigs roam the streets to forage as long as the pigs wore bells to mark them out.

St Antony’s Hospital in London was set up by the Order of Hospitallers of St Antony. The Order specialised in treating a condition known as St Antony’s Fire (now called ergotism, caused by eating rye infected by a mould). The hospital’s masters raised its importance in the 15th century, attracting pilgrims and making souvenirs for them. 

Pilgrim badge tau cross with crucified Christ, pewter, England, 15th century. Museum of London