A patent oak collector's cabinet together with a collection of Medieval and later lead alloy pil...

A patent oak collector's cabinet together with a collection of Medieval and later lead alloy pilgrim badges The chest, second quarter 20th century, the contents 13th to 16th century and later With twenty numbered drawers, three filled with pilgrim badges, together with a miniature lead pilgrim flasks or ampulla, of scallop shell form and other metal elements, each drawer now fitted with a single division, with a Wellington chest style locking baton, labelled to the base 'Anatoform & Solila Classified Service Cabinet' and 'Amalgamated Dental Company Limited', 37cm wide, 24.5cm deep, 55.5cm high (14 1/2in wide, 9 1/2in deep, 21 1/2in high) Footnotes: Pilgrim badges were collected by pilgrims as religious souvenirs once they reached their pilgrimage destination, where they would have been sold outside the entrance to a holy site. The badges would have been worn by pilgrims on their hat, cloak or staff as proof of reaching their destination and show their faith to fellow travellers and inn keepers. The large quantity found in watercourses could suggest they were thrown into rivers upon the completion of the journey as thanks or an offering. Ampullae or pilgrim's flasks were designed to carry holy water and would be pinned to the clothing or hung around the necks of Medieval pilgrims, both showing you were a pilgrim and protecting the pilgrim for evil. They were sold as souvenirs at sites of Christian pilgrimage, typically bearing imagery relating to a particular saint. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing