MEDIEVAL AMPULLA

1200

Medieval lead ampulla or miniature phial, probably of 13-15th century date. The ampulla is near complete; missing only both handles (one of which has broken relatively recently) and small areas on both faces. The rim and neck of the vessel is open. The base of the ampulla is comparatively rounded and forms a semicircular bottom edge. The remnants of the side loops are discernible on the shoulders of the base and midway along the neck. The obverse is decorated with a scallop-shell motif; the scallop being the badge of St James in addition to being the symbol of pilgrimage. The scallop is composed of numerous low grooves producing a flat bottom edge, implying the ampulla is of Spencer's (1990) Type II. No decoration is evident on the reverse face or the neck of the ampulla.