|
Date: |
|
Description: | Complete cast lead ampulla. Medieval. 13th century AD.The body is circular in plan, with a short neck which widens towards the rim. The loops are intact, although one loop does not have a hole, suggesting that this may be a waster as suspension from the loops would have been impossible. The front face of the body has a fleur-de-lis, with a horizontal bar at the base. The reverse pattern is obscured. Both sides have a raised cross-cross pattern in the background. The casting ridge is visible around the edge. There is some plough damage. Ampullae were a pilgrim souvenir designed to contain water from holy wells and shrines. The loops either side of the neck were used to suspend the ampulla around the neck. Coming into use in the last quarter of the 12th century, they were the main, almost sole, pilgrim souvenir of the thriteenth century. Many bore elaborate designs representing the particular shrine. During the fourteenth century, when pilgrim badges became the popular souvenire, ampullae become smaller and less elaborate, designed to be worn on the hat like badges. The intact nature of this particular ampulla woudl suggest that the holy water still survives inside.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
AMPULLA
A medieval lead pilgrim's ampulla.…
-
AMPULLA
A complete lead pilgrim's ampulla…
-
AMPULLA
An incomplete lead pilgrim's ampulla…
-
AMPULLA
An incomplete cast lead Medieval…
-
AMPULLA
A complete though damaged lead…
-
AMPULLA
A complete cast lead pilgrim's…
-
AMPULLA
An incomplete cast lead pilgrim's…
-
AMPULLA
Cast lead-alloy pilgrim's badge in…
-
AMPULLA
An incomplete cast lead pilgrim's…
-
AMPULLA
A complete lead alloy pilgrim's…
|