Medieval badge phallus and vulva, silvered bronze

Product description

In the late Middle Ages, pilgrim badges with crude erotic or obscene motifs were especially common in the Netherlands, though they also appeared in Belgium and England. People likely used these badges for amusement during the carnival season, reflecting a tendency to blend humor and irreverence with social rituals. The replica is available in high-quality silver-plated bronze.

The erotic imagery on these pilgrim badges — including depictions of phallic trees, ships, and animals — belonged to a larger group of profane badges. The "phallic animal" typically depicted a half-human, half-animal creature with exaggerated sexual features, sometimes crowned or adorned with bells. People likely created these badges to address sexuality through humor, using them as conversation starters and tools for sexual initiation, especially during the revelry of the carnival season. Read more