English: The object is a cast lead or lead alloy ampulla. Ampullae were used as a flask to hold holy water, becoming a souvenir of a pilgrimage; they date to the late 12th to 15th centuries (Spencer, B. 1990, Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum p, 57 ff).

The ampulla has a sub-circular lower half in plan, and the upper half, which is integral to the lower half is a sub-rectangle in plan. Where the lower and upper portions meet, on one edge is an integral triangular lug. Originally there was probably a second lug on the opposite side, but there is a recent scrape here, which maybe the cause of it being missing. In profile the flask is relatively straight. 



The lower circular portion of the ampulla has high-relief decoration. One face has a feint crown with a central fleur-de-lis. The crown is composed of lines, but is not very clear. The other face has a six-petalled flower within a decorated border. The leaves of the flower are point ovals and their outline is depicted in high-relief. The border is more unclear, but has a series of oblique parallel lines which gives a sense of stylised cross-hatching. The face with the crown is slightly concave, whereas the flower face is slightly convex. 



The upper portion of the ampulla forms the neck and rim. The rim flares slightly at the edges, but from the top view the rim is as if the rim has been squeezed together. The rim is less thick and does not have a gap between the two faces as, for example the neck. A tool may have been used to seal the rim by squeezing as there are irregular rectangular impressions just below the rim, where the rim is the least thick. 

 

The surface of the ampulla has developed a mottled beige coloured patina which is slightly shiny. The length of the ampulla from the upper edge to the apex of the base is 59.22mm, the maximum width across the lower portion is 33.3mm. The thickness of the base of the ampulla is 8.63mm. It weighs 56.66.