File:Medieval Lion Badge (FindID 717694).jpg

English: An incomplete Medieval gilt copper alloy badge in two pieces, dating to the 14^th or 15^th centuries. The badge is in the form of a lion passant gardant with a double folded tail, fully moulded to the front but flat to the reverse. One piece consists of the body of the lion, which is long and thin, with a fragment of the tail, whereas the other piece consists of two folds of the tail. The tail piece is missing a fragment at the break, while at the second fold it has a stub showing where the tail would have been anchored to the lion's left ear for more support. There is finely cast detail on the front: the facial features and musculature of the body are well rendered; there are three rounded toes on each paw; the mane and fur on the legs are delineated by a series of fine lines; further detail at the middle and end of the tail depicts realistic tufts of fur. Much gilding also remains on the front, especially on the head, chest and front legs of the lion. The flat reverse is worn but undecorated, with the flat remains of two integral rivets at either end of the animal.

The larger body fragment of the badge is 57.1mm long, 18.7mm wide, 4.6mm thick and weighs 11.33g. The tail fragment is 29.4mm long, 8.6mm wide, 2.7mm thick and weighs 2.29g. Together the two weigh 13.62.

Livery badges such as this are thought to date between 1300 and 1600, reaching a peak during the second half of the 15^th Century. They often took the form of animals and most common of all was the lion. Some similar examples are published in Spencer (1998), p.282, especially nos. 292 and 273a which both depict lions passant gardant, the latter more particularly showing how a tail in double fold was rendered more secure by being anchored to the left ear. These badges were often used to signify an affiliation with a specific monarch or family, however this example cannot be attributed safely to a particular person as lions were also regarded more generally as a representation of England and therefore often worn as expressions of loyalty and patriotism, perhaps more particularly during active phases of the 100 years war (ibid 283).