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Description: | A miniature two-handled vessel with rounded base and beaded rim, cast in one piece. The vessel's Latin inscription (OLEVM CHRISM) is crudely applied, and the final M is a little unclear due to wear.. The terminals and the junctions of some of the letters have been marked out with punched or drilled dots. A small part of the rim and neck opposite the inscription is missing. This vessel appears to have been intended to hold holy oil (chrism) and presumably comes from a travelling chrismatory, or set of three holy oils used in the medieval church: oleum infirmorum for the sick; oleum catechumenorum for baptism; and chrisma or balm, used for confirmation, ordination and certain consecrations. There is no obvious 'A' at the end of the inscription. From the style of the lettering, and in particular the square 'C' and 'E', the object is tentatively dated to before c.1200.They have hitherto been known as 'mercury flasks' due to a suggestion that they may have contained this metal.
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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