MEDIEVAL AMPULLA

1275

A lead medieval pilgrim’s ampulla, in very good condition. The ampulla is of the familiar miniature phial shape, with a pair of handles for suspension. The ampulla is decorated on one side with a crown on a hatched background. The reverse has a crowned W, also on a hatched background. It is 31 mm wide and 49 mm high. The ampulla has been pinched together at the top to contain the thaumaturgic water dispensed to pilgrims at shrines and holy wells. An identical example is illustrated in the Salisbury Museum Medieval Catalogue (Spencer 1990, page 89; fig 180) and another is known from Huntingdon (Spencer 1990, page 60). Other examples with the same combination of motifs are also known. Ampullae with the crowned letter W are suggested as being associated with the cult of Our Lady of Walsingham (Spencer 1971, 63-64 in Spencer 1990, 60-61), and the crown is likely to be an emblem of the Virgin as Queen of Heaven. While it is likely that the crowned W is a reference to Walsingham, it has also been noted that it may have a more general meaning, such as a double V for Virgo Virginium, or an M for Maria when inverted (Spencer 1990, 61). The shrine to a miraculous statue of the Virgin at Walsingham was one of the most significant sanctuaries in Europe from the 13th century until the 16th century. Indeed, during the 15th and early 16th centuries it eclipsed Canterbury as the principal English pilgrim resort (together with Windsor) (Spencer 1998, 135-137; Spencer 1990, 30-31). Pilgrim's ampullae are difficult to date individually, but if this example does indeed relate to the Walsingham shrine, then it must date from the late 13th to early 16th century. Ampullae are generally regarded as dating to the later medieval period, from circa 1350 to 1530.