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Description: | Large lead ampulla dating to the medieval period (late 12th ?? early 14th century). Ampulla or miniature phials such as this were the main type of pilgrim souvenir (in England) during the 13th century and were designed to hold a measure of the thaumaturgic water dispensed to pilgrims at many shrines and holy wells of the period. Ampulla normally have a pair of small handles so that they can be suspended around the wearers neck. This example is missing one handle but the other triangular shaped handle is still intact but bent around the back.
The obverse of the ampulla shows a type I scallop shell with deep radiating ribs and a corrugated surface. The scallop shell, as well as being the badge of St James of Compostela, was the emblem of pilgrimage itself so was a very common obverse type for ampulla of the period. The reverse of the ampulla has cast decoration; a central circle with a chevron inside it. Ampulla with the same decoration have been published from Sutton-on-Sea and Caistor in Lincolnshire.There has been some speculation that this could indicate Clare - the family or the place in Suffolk, but the overall distribution is against this interpretation, and so it may simply be a heraldic or heraldic-looking filler for a space.
The ampulla weighs 49.48g and measures 46.57mm in length, 38.04mm in width and 11.3mm in thickness. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Marshall, Anna - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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