Foundlings at the exhibition "Filhos de todos… filhos de quem? Os expostos da roda de Lisboa"

Foundling tokens

The "tokens" of the foundlings left on the Lisbon Wheel are one of the great hallmarks of the Historical Archive of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

Tokens of foundling children

Foundling no. 550 of 1831 Token of Maria Angélica

Foundling no. 842 of 1835 Token of Nicolau

Foundling no 1652 and 1653 of 1836 Token of Felizarda Maria Gomes e de Maria José

Foundling no. 1769 of 1836 Token of António

Foundling no. 1915 of 1836 Token of Angelina de Castro

Foundling no. 255 of 1838 Token of Maria dos Anjos

Foundling no. 187 of 1839 Token of José

Foundling no. 918 of 1839 Token of Felicidade

Foundling no. 1135 of 1840 Token of Carlos Correia de Lacerda

Foundling no. 556 of 1841 Token of Maria

Foundling no. 112 of 1842 Token of João Evangelista da Silveira Machado Pina

Foundling no. 1976 of 1844 Token of Maria da Conceição

About the tokens

These “tokens” are mostly composed of a ‘note’, i.e., a textual document, usually on paper, in which the parent or someone designated thereby, recorded information regarding the child that was considered necessary or useful. The “token” essentially served as a mark and individualizing element of the child, but sometimes it was also used as a means of sharing anxieties, the causes of abandonment, and also the conveyance of requests regarding the child’s future.

Some of these documents, in addition to the ‘note’, were accompanied by other pieces that, from a symbolic point of view, aimed to place the abandoned child under the protection, shielding or intercession of the divine (through images of saints, medals, crucifixes, etc.), secular objects (charms, clovers, amulets, playing cards, etc.), or even affective items (ribbons, embroidery, socks, mother’s hair, etc.).