Lot 485
Charles I and Henrietta Maria A silver cast and chased loyalty badge, circa 1649,
Auction: 9 December 2005 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Obverse: bust of Charles I facing left. Lovelock on left shoulder, in falling lace collar, armour and scarf across the breast
Reverse: bust of Henrietta Maria facing left, crowned, in pearl necklace and ear-ring, lace collar, stiff and erect and bodice ornamented with jewels
The badge has an engraved border on both sides and a ring for suspension. The medal is hung from a parchment inscribed This medal of Charles I was given to one of the Hotham family for his devotion to The Royal Cause and has been in the possession of the Cockerills for 3 or 4 generations. It came to my father with a crownpiece of the same King which is lost Signed J Cockerill
Footnote
Note; Examples of the two sides of one of these badges are fixed to the covers of a New Testament bible in the British Museum. This medal is one of a number of badges evidently intended to be worn by friends or supporters of Charles I. These medals are of various sizes and workmanship and were executed at various times. Some were worn as ornamental or honourable decorations conferred for services performed and were struck before the King's execution. Others were struck after the King was deposed and were worn in a concealed manner as tacit memorials of the monarch or of the cause where an open avowal of such attachment would have been troublesome or dangerous to the wearer.
See Medallic Illustrations Vol. I, page 358, No.224.