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Description: | Medieval incomplete and damaged lead-alloy pilgrim's ampulla. It has a rounded base from which a rectangular, neck protrudes, expanding in width to the top. It is now squashed flat with the sides of the neck folded inwards slightly. The top of the neck is torn across with an irregular edge. There are suspension loops on either side at the junction of the neck and body, one complete but squashed, one mostly missing to old breaks. It measures 46.0mm long and 28.8mm wide. It is 6.3mm thick and weighs 25.69g.One face of the ampulla is decorated with a raised line design of a compass drawn six petalled flower with pointed oval petals in two concentric circles. Between the outer circle and edge are faint marks of triangles and parallel line filling. The other face is decorated with a raised line design of a square topped shield in two concentric circles. The shield has a design of a chevron with a rectangular tab in the upper left and upper right corners, the left hand one is much fainter. Between the shield and inner circle there are four angled lines to each side. Between the outer circle and edge is a continuous row of triangles, the inner triangles are filled with multiple evenly spaced lines running parallel to the circle. Across the joint between the body and neck on both sides are a pair of parallel raised lines running between the suspension loops.Ampulla were designed to contain a draught of relic water, to be taken as cures or worn by suspension through the loops as a talisman (Spencer, 1998: 203). Spencer (ibid: 3) suggests that ampulla were popular in England from the second half of the 12th century until the early 14th century, when they were largely replaced by badges as the most popular type of pilgrimage momento. Both shield and flower designs are known although shields are mostly found in combination with a scallop shell design and have slight differences in the markings (for example see Spencer 1990:59 no.128, fig 171 with mullets ratehr than tabs around the chevron and a different border). See LIN-CA9E27 on this database from Lincolnshire and SF-CD8C64 found in Suffolk for very similar examples, the former possibly from the same mould. The torn neck may suggest it was deliberately opened and the water poured out for some use.
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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