Brooch with a flower and pink hand, Europe, 1890-1935

Brooch, in form of silvered metal flower with pink plastic hand tied to front with brass wire, souvenir of pilgrimage, European, 1890-1935

This rather gaudy metal and plastic brooch was bought as a souvenir of a religious pilgrimage. It is an example of the mass produced trinkets that were increasingly being sold by religious groups towards the end of the 1800s to raise funds and provide the visitor with a souvenir of their pilgrimage to a holy place. The brooch may have supposed protective properties.