Livery Badge, Margaret Beaufort.

Description

Secular pewter badge: Livery Badge of Margaret Beaufort

Time period:Late 15th to Early 16th Century
Origin:Salisbury, England
Materials: Pewter
Product Dimensions: 4.3cm width x 3.8cm height

Further details:

Originally this badge had been described as ‘A three flowered daisy, the two outer flowers shown in profile. This item belongs to a class of medieval badge, commonly represented by flowers or hearts. whose purpose was simply to be exchanged and worn as symbols of true love.’

Further research has suggested that while it may have been used as a lovers token, it is more likely that this badge served as a livery badge by Lady Margaret Beaufort, Mother of King Henry VII (marguerite being the French word for Daisy). Two depictions of Lady Margaret’s badge show a daisy of an almost identical form to that depicted by this badge.