MEDIEVAL AMPULLA

1300

A lead pilgrim’s ampulla dating to the medieval period. The ampulla is of the familiar miniature phial shape, however both of the side loops and a large part of one side of the neck is missing.The ampulla is very worn and no decoration is visible. The neck has been torn on one side to release the contents of the vessel.An ampulla is a miniature flask or phial that carried holy water dispensed to pilgrims at shrines and holy wells, and are basically a pilgrim souvenir. They could be suspended and worn around the pilgrim’s neck, or hung up in houses and barns. The water within them may have been in contact with a relic associated with different Saints, and the designs on the ampullas often reflected the figure or relic they were associated with.