Talbot dog

Description

Secular pewter badge: Talbot dog

Time period: 15th Century
Origin: England
Materials: Pewter
Product Dimensions: 3.4cm width x 3.3cm height

Further details:

A seated Talbot dog. The Talbot was a breed of now extinct hunting dog. Being highly regarded for their loyalty, Talbots were a common amatory motif. The Talbot dog was also adopted as the livery badge of the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury; a contemporary poem referring to John Talbot as ‘Talbott our goode dogge.’

We can assume that the original of this badge would have been worn as a symbol of loyalty, but whether this was loyal love or loyal allegiance is uncertain.