MEDIEVAL AMPULLA

1300

A lead pilgrim’s ampulla dating to the medieval period. The ampulla is of the familiar miniature phial shape. At the top of the shoulders there are two broken stubs on either side indicating where the handles were once present. The top of the ampulla is still crimped together indicating that the vessel has not been opened.The ampulla is very worn and very little decoration can be made out. One side is completely worn away, and the other has what looks like a large scroll-like letter 'W' for Walsingham, or 'M' for Mary. 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.