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File:Medieval ampulla (plan, profile and reverse). (FindID 803592).jpg

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Medieval ampulla (plan, profile and reverse).
Photographer
Birmingham Museums Trust, Angie Bolton, 2016-09-12 09:03:05
Title
Medieval ampulla (plan, profile and reverse).
Description
English: Medieval (late 12th to 15th centuries) ampulla: In plan the lower portion of the lead ampulla is a sub-drop shape, and the upper portion is an inverted trapezoid. The upper edge of this vessel has been pressed together and slightly ripped in the centre. It is not clear whether the rip is intentional or damage due to the plough. At the approximate midpoint where the lower and upper portions meet there are traces of incomplete lugs. The ampulla is slightly bulbous on the lower portion, and the surface is undulating. Both faces of the ampulla, on the lower portion are decorated. One face has a scallop motif covering it. The other face has a circular border with which is the outline of a flask or phial. The background around the flask has irregular cross-hatching.

The surface of the ampulla has developed a light cream coloured patina. Its length, from the upper edge to the apex of the base is 54.82mm, the maximum width across the lower portion is 31.34mm wide, and the thickness is 6.79mm. It weighs 38.91g.

Ampullae were used as a flask to hold holy water, becoming a souvenir of a pilgrimage; they generally date to the late 12th to 15th centuries (Spencer, 1990, 57 ff). Ampullae such as this type are rarely found in urban areas, but more in rural areas which may reflect the folk practice such as burying the ampulla in fields to protect crops and livestock from illness (ibid: 205).

The scallop motif is associated with the pilgrimage to St. James of Compostela, but this motif is used on ampulla from other shrines. This motif, with the flask or phial, may suggest it is from Walsingham, Norfolk. Other ampullae with these motifs are on the PAS database, for example NMS-79C3AE, NMGW-514FAB, SF-A288A9 and NMS-DC58DB. The recorder on NMS-79C3AE notes that the flask is the 'phial of the Holy Milk of the Blessed Mary kept on the high altar' at Walsingham (Spencer 1971, 63, 66, Figure; XXII p and q).

Spencer, B., 1971 'A Scallop-Shell Ampulla from Caistor and Comparable Pilgrim Souvenirs' Lincolnshire Archaeology and History: Lincolnshire Local History Society

Spencer, B., 1990. Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 2. Salisbury: Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum
Depicted place (County of findspot) Worcestershire
Date between 1275 and 1500
date QS:P571,+1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,+1275-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Accession number
FindID: 803592
Old ref: WAW-657D63
Filename: WAW657D63.jpg
Credit line
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a voluntary programme run by the United Kingdom government to record the increasing numbers of small finds of archaeological interest found by members of the public. The scheme started in 1997 and now covers most of England and Wales. Finds are published at https://finds.org.uk
Source https://finds.org.uk/database/ajax/download/id/582444
Catalog: https://finds.org.uk/database/images/image/id/582444/recordtype/artefacts archive copy at the Wayback Machine
Artefact: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/803592
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 Attribution License
Object location52° 21′ 45″ N, 2° 00′ 58.64″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

Licensing

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This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Attribution: Birmingham Museums Trust
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current03:58, 31 January 2019Thumbnail for version as of 03:58, 31 January 20194,974 × 3,565 (6.55 MB)Fæ (talk | contribs)Portable Antiquities Scheme, WAW, FindID: 803592, medieval, page 3247, batch count 3233

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