Badge plaquette, England, 1710
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1710
Badge plaquette in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number A.98-1930), made in England, dated 1710. The museum's brief description reads: of Dr Henry Sacheverell; Lead English 18C,1710.
Museum description: Badge plaquette in lead representing Dr. Henry Sacheverell. The Dr is shown seated before a curtain holding on his knee a shield surmounted by a mitre inscribed "PASSIVE OBEDIENCE". His left leg placed upon an allegorical figure holding two snakes. From the arch in the background to the right a second figure inscribed above "BURGESS" approaches him with dagger and pistol, while to the right a third figure with ribbon inscribed "MODERATION" moves away.
The museum records it as lead, cast, measuring Height 7.4 cm; Width 8.9 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This plaquette was cast as a badge to be worn by partizans of Dr. Henry Sacheverell. Sacheverell was impeached in 1710 and suspended for three years for preaching in the city at St. Pauls on Passive Obedience to the rule of princes and against the administration which tolerated dissenters. Sacheverells chief opponent was David Burgess, a Pastor of the Presbyterian meeting house in Carey Street, Lincolns Inn. The populace enraged at his attack on Sacheverell broke into his chapel and ransacked it.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- lead
- Dimensions
- Height 7.4 cm; Width 8.9 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- lead, cast
- Place recorded
- England
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- "PASSIVE OBEDIENCE," "BURGESS," "MODERATION"
Identification
- Museum object name
- Badge plaquette
- Museum object number
- A.98-1930
- Museum system number
- O309565
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.