15th - 17th century Bronze Collection, Seal, pilgrims scallop shell (9) (No reserve price)

"15th–18th Century Bronze Collection Including Seal, Pilgrim's Scallop Shell and Dress Accessories (9)

Culture / Period: 15th - 17th century
Date / Period: 15th - 18th century
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 12–42 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 839

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Collection, Seal, Pilgrim's Scallop Shell (9) from P.P. in Baarland, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, P.P. from Baarland (the Netherlands), stated that the objects had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the objects had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the objects was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This attractive group comprises nine bronze artefacts dating between the 15th and 18th centuries, representing a cross-section of personal accessories and domestic objects from the Late Medieval and Early Modern periods. The collection includes Tudor buttons (15th–17th century), belt hooks (16th–17th century), a decorative knife fitting (15th century), a belt mount (15th century), a bronze sealing wax stamp seal (17th–18th century), and a pilgrim's scallop shell badge (17th century), together with other contemporary dress and personal fittings.

These objects illustrate the diverse material culture of everyday life. Buttons and belt fittings formed part of fashionable dress, while decorative knife and belt mounts enhanced personal equipment. The sealing stamp was used to authenticate letters and documents by impressing a personal mark into hot sealing wax, reflecting the increasing importance of written communication and literacy during the Early Modern period.

Particularly noteworthy is the pilgrim's scallop shell badge, inspired by the emblem traditionally associated with the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Such badges were worn as visible tokens of pilgrimage and devotion and became enduring symbols of faith and travel throughout medieval and post-medieval Europe.

Cast and finished by specialised metalworkers, objects of this type were produced in large workshops and distributed through local markets across northwestern Europe. Although originally commonplace, complete and identifiable examples are increasingly appreciated today for the insight they provide into everyday dress, travel, trade, and personal identity.

Together, these artefacts form a tangible connection to the daily lives of people living between the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, illustrating the craftsmanship and practical objects that accompanied them in work, travel, devotion, and domestic life."