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Bread stamp

The Order regarded the sick and poor of all religions as if they were Christ himself, and no luxury was denied to them. This included providing white bread, a rare luxury in the medieval period, which was baked solely for hospital patients. This bread stamp would have been pressed into fresh bread, leaving the eight pointed cross of the Order imbedded.

This object is on display

Object type: Medical and First Aid Equipment
Date: Production: 14th century
Subject(s): Bearers of the Cross
Knights Hospitaller
Religion and Devotion
Dimensions: Height: 57mm
Diameter: 79mm
Materials and technique: Pumice stone
Production place: Lambousa
Cyprus
References: Foakes, Tom, ed. Treasures: Faith, Care, Valour: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum of the Order of St John. Priory of England and the Islands of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 2019.
Pages 102 - 103

Mossman, Stephen and Rebecca Raven. "Episode 6: The Donors." Museum of the Order of St John: Off the Shelves at St John's Gate. Podcast audio. June 17, 2024. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://museumstjohn.org.uk/off-the-shelves-at-st-johns-gate-a-podcast-series/
Credit line: Gift of Rupert Gunnis, 1930
Catalogue number: 3005