Statuette, of St James Major

This jet statuette of St James was made for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It dates from possibly the second half of the 15th century.

Jet figure of St James the Apostle dressed as a pilgrim, probably a signaculum, a pilgrim's sign obtained at the saint's shrine at Compostella in Spain, 16th century

By the twelfth century, Santiago had become one of the principal shrines in Christendom. It was drawing an estimated half a million visitors a year at the height of its popularity in the Middle Ages. The most common pieces which have survived from Santiago are the small statuettes of St James and the small amulets in the shape of a clenched hand.

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