Overview

Brian Spencer, former Keeper of the Museum of London, was a major scholar of medieval popular culture. He almost single-handedly established the study of pilgrim souvenirs and secular badges. He defined what these objects were and ascertained their function, manufacture, style, and iconography with a careful use of primary documents and intricate stylistic analysis. He identified every major souvenir and badge discovered in Great Britain during the last few decades. He also made prominent contributions to the field of seal matrices, gaming pieces, and horse paraphernalia. What bound all of these interests together was his understanding that the study of these artefacts could shed light on the beliefs and practices of a large number of people. This is reflected in the frequency with which his work is cited. This volume is a collection of essays written by those who worked with Brian directly and those with whom he corresponded.

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9781789252293

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Reviews

The book is a fitting tribute to a great curator and friend to so many.--Nigel Mills Minerva, 2008 This volume comes at an important time. Not only does it commemorate Brian Spencers seminal work in bringing pilgrims souvenirs and other similar small objects to serious scholarly attention, but it also signifies a next step in the study of these items.--Jennifer Lee Medieval Review, 2008

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