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  • Jug with relief design based on  Stothard’s Canterbury Pilgrims

Album cover, Canterbury Tales – Best of Caravan

1973

The cover of this LP by the Canterbury-based band, Caravan, uses a detail of Stothard’s Canterbury Pilgrims image.

Reference: 2005.4.1
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Ampulla

12th – 15th centuries

Lead

Ampullae of tin or tin/lead alloy (pewter) were being made and sold in Canterbury as early as 1171, a year after Becket’s death. There was demand for the miracle working Canterbury water - believed to be tinged with the martyr’s blood – and it is thought that these ampullae were originally fashioned as a sealed container which could be worn suspended from a cord.
This example was cast in a mould and is inscribed “optimus egrorum medicus fit Toma bonorum” [Thomas is the best doctor of the worthy sick].

Reference: 1991.3
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Becket pilgrim badges

12th – 15th Centuries

Lead

Lead souvenirs like these were made in thousands for medieval pilgrim visitors to the shrines of saints. The shrine of St James the Major in Compostella, Spain, had a shell as its pilgrim badge, St Edward the Confessor at Westminster a crown. Becket pilgrim badges were generally in the shape of a head, like the shrine that contained the piece of Becket’s skull sliced off by the sword blows that killed him, but others were available too. A selection of badges are shown here;
Square badge depicting Becket head
Badge depicting the episcopal gloves of Becket
Round badge with Becket head inside
Badge depicting Becket head flanked by two swords in circular frame
Badge depicting the shrine of Becket
Large badge depicting head and shoulders of Becket Round badge depicting head of Becket with pin on back Badge depicting head of Becket

Reference: 1988.34.1 – 1988.34.78
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Cameo head of Geoffrey Chaucer 1994, Wedgwood

A. Holmer

Jasperware

Reference: 1994.43
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Cup, saucer and bowl with decoration based on Stothard’s Canterbury Pilgrims

Royal Doulton

Reference: 2003.84.1-2, 2004.328
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Enamel box with images of William Blake’s ‘Canterbury

Pilgrims’ painting

The painting runs round the box with a detail of the Wife of Bath from Blake’s painting on the lid.

Reference: (nn)
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer

16th century, Artist unknown

Oil on panel

Likenesses of Chaucer are very rare. All date from after his death in 1440 and are based on two manuscript images painted shortly after Chaucer died. One of these shows him on horseback, and both depict him wearing round his neck a case containing a writing implement (a pen or stylus for writing on tablets), a token of his craft. The portrait displayed here is one of a small group painted in the later 1500s and deriving from a manuscript depiction known as the ‘Hoccleve Portrait’, now in the British Museum, London. These show Chaucer holding the pen case in his right hand, and the Chaucer family arms in the top left corner.
Purchased with grant-aid from the MGC/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Friends of Canterbury Museums and the Beecroft Bequest, 1991

Reference: 1991.66 Becket and Chaucer
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Image of St Thomas Becket

Early plastic

Reference: (nn)
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Jug with illustrations of Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims

Designed for Canterbury Cathedral by Gordon Davies

Reference: 1996.4
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Jug with relief design based on Stothard’s Canterbury Pilgrims

Brown glazed earthenware

Reference: 1994.45
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Medallion with image of Stothard’s Canterbury Pilgrims 1880

Produced by the Art Union

Reference: 2001.16.1
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Medallion with portrait of Thomas Stothard

Reference: 10365
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Mug with image of WilliamBlake’s ‘Canterbury Pilgrims’ engraving Wedgwood

Reference: 10091
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Pilgrim bell

12th – 15th Centuries

Lead

Reference: (nn)
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

St Thomas Becket medal

Modern

Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

Stone ampullae mould and impression

12th – 15th centuries

Clay Ironstone

Used to make ampullae of St Thomas. The impression shows the design that would have been created using it.

Reference: 6170
Can be found: Becket and Chaucer

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