Pilgrim badge vulva on horseback, silvered bronze

Product description

This extraordinary medieval badge is based on a historical model from the late Middle Ages, discovered in the Netherlands and dating back to 1375–1425 AD. Obscene-erotic badges were widespread in Northern Europe during this period, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands. They were often associated with carnival festivities, serving as humorous and provocative accessories. The design features a crowned vulva riding a horse, holding a flagellum in one hand and a crossbow in the other, parodying the Virgin Mary.

Made from high-quality bronze, the badge includes an eye on the back so you can wear it multiple ways — around your neck, attached to clothing, or secured to a robe. At 3.1 x 2.1 cm, it matches the dimensions of the historical original. Its playful design makes it both a bold statement piece and a conversation starter, especially during carnival season.

Obscene-erotic pilgrimage badges like this one represent a distinct category of medieval profane art. They often depicted personified genitalia — a vulva riding a horse, a winged vulva, or scenes involving phalli. These designs likely aimed to defuse the taboo of sexuality through humor, functioning as joking love tokens or playful conversation starters in contexts that encouraged social and sexual openness, like carnivals.