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Description: | A lead ampulla, 53mm in length and 32mm in width, made from a two-piece mould. Such ampulla were pilgrim souvenirs and were used to carry the holy water that was dispensed to pilgrims at holy wells and shrines. In East Anglia they are often found on arable land unassociated with other holy relics and it is likely that they were used in the religious ceremony of 'blessing the fields' each spring to pray for good crops, holy water would have been sprinkled on the fields and then the ampulla discarded (Mitchiner 1986, p138). This ampulla is pouch-shaped and it has moulded decoration on both faces. On one face there is a crown, which consists of a tall oval shape with two wider more rounded oval-shapes either side of it. The wider oval-shapes are decorated by three circular dots in each half and the base of the crown has a band with a row of dots running along its centre. The other face of the ampulla has a flower on it, which may represent a rose. It has six inner petals and six larger outer ones its centre has a cross-hatched pattern. The handles of this ampulla, to allow it to be hung from a cord or chain from around the neck, are pointed. Fourteenth to early sixteenth century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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