Religious pendants, called Deli, were common in all the Catholic cantons of Switzerland. In central Switzerland they consisted of a double-sided pendant with pictures of saints or other Christian symbols on each side. The name Deli may derive from the Latin words Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) which was a common theme, or from the French word médaille, or medallion. They were worn by women, hung from a black velvet ribbon round the neck.

Although some feature profane pictures, the vast majority, like this one, have two religious images. On one side of this pendant is the image of Maria vom guten Rat, a portrait of the Virgin venerated at the Italian pilgrimage site of Genazzano which was especially popular among Catholics from the Alpine regions of Switzerland and Austria. On the other is St Lawrence holding a gridiron, the symbol of his martyrdom.