Home • Artwork • Badge History • How Its Made • Terms • Contact Us

© Lets Get Badges 2010

Enamel Badges | Lapel Pins

for every occasion

Charities - Fundraising - Corporate

Schools & Clubs

BADGE HISTORY

The humble badge in some form, has been worn for hundreds of years and has been used as a tool to signify political allegiance or contempt, social injustice, support or disdain for the monarchy and more recently as a symbol of global protest over issues such as war, peace, race-relations and regime change.  

As far back as early mediaeval times, people have shown a fascination for badges. Wearing badges also expressed a sense of belonging, and during the 19th century they were used by trade-unionists and politicians to declare their membership or support of a particular group.  

Today badges are worn to show designs and logos which represent everything from a charity to a band and have become the one of the most popular possessions to kids and adults alike.

History of the Enamel Badge

The earliest badges we know of are from the 12th century when badges were made with the engraved faces of St Peter and St Paul.  Pilgrims would wear them as a sign of their devotion and to prove their faith and these badges would have been the popular promotional gift of the time.  Pilgrimages became even more popular in the 14th century and many gatherings used to take place at the famous Tabard Inn in Southwark, London for pilgrims on their way to the annual pilgrimage in Canterbury Cathedral.  Badges have been found by the banks of the Thames near Tabard Inn where it is possible that the pilgrims might have thrown their badges into the river as a ritual or out of superstition, like throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain today to make a wish.

In 1807 William Wilberforce purchased 50,000 medallions to promote the Anti Slavery cause that he was passionate about.   In what was probably one of the first promotional badges made for a political cause, it was the campaign which led to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire.

The invention of the drop-stamp machine in Birmingham around 1840 made mass production of enamel badges possible.  They first appeared in quantity towards the end of the 19th century when the rising influence of the middle classes resulted in a great many clubs and societies forming, whose members wanted to identify themselves. At the same time the introduction of tourism and seaside holidays created a demand for souvenirs, including badges bearing enamel crests of popular towns.

The First World War brought about a boost to the trade. Regimental badges and those showing flags of the Allies were made in vast numbers, but when the war finished the trade entered into a deep depression emerging only slowly during the 'thirties' as demand for publicity badges and a fashion for collecting gradually increased.

Since 1945, production of club badges and publicity items has continued, and at the same time there has been a steady growth in production for direct sale to the general public: items such as football emblems, car, motorcycle, locomotive and aeroplane badges are to be found on retail sale in many and varied places.

Before long, charities, schools, universities and businesses were all buying into the idea of badges to promote their name and cause whilst the person wearing the badge was proud to show their association.  Even today, a badge shows achievement at school (Prefect Badge), in business to show years in service or status, or as a charity badge to show support. Badges will never cease to be a well received and appreciated item and is a continually growing trend.

Over the years and as with many areas of production, the simple methods have been replaced by more modern techniques and with the aid of computer graphics, it is possible to replicated some very intricate designs and logos and produce enamel badges with very fine detail.

Today most enamel badges are produced in China as the cost of manufacturing is so much cheaper.