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An unusual late medieval silver gilt applique depicting St. George slaying the dragon.
The saint is shown on horseback, wearing visored helmet, holding a spear in his right hand and reins in his left. The long mythical dragon is shown prostrate, his tail curled as he struggles beneath the horse. The saint looks forward as he impales the writhing dragon through the mouth.
St. George is now seen as the patron saint of several countries -England, Georgia, Greece, Russia and Portugal amongst others. According to myth, St. George rescued the city of Silene (in modern-day Libya) from a terrible dragon, whom the inhabitants were forced to feed daily by human sacrifice. In the late medieval period the by-then old myth achieved great popularity, particularly in Post Crusades England, where his story was associated with the ideal of the miles Christi, or knight of Christ.
This artifact would thus have been a potent symbol of knighthood, and was perhaps worn as a badge in late medieval England.
Height: 5/8 inch.
Weight: 1.6 g.
Provenance: Belgian Private collection, probably of English manufacture.
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