Statuette, of St James Major

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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.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-041-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KH 4
• Date: 16th century
  Possibly the second half of the 15th century
  
• Material: Jet
  Figure / saint / signaculum
  
• Dimensions: 4.75" H
  
• What: Figure / saint / signaculum
  
• Subject: Stone sculptures, carvings, foreign (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: St James the Apostle
  
• Where: Spain, Compostella
  
• Event:
• Description:
• References:
  • Evans, G. Souvenirs From Roman Times to the Present Day. Edinburgh: NMS Publishing Ltd, 1999, p 4. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: