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A complete lead medieval ampulla dating to c. AD 1300-1500.<\/strong><\/p> The object is hollow-cast in the form of a bag-shaped vessel with a slightly flared neck and opposed D-shaped handles set where the neck meets a slightly bulbous body. One side bears longitudinal fluting which is carried up across both body and neck, and which evokes the cockleshell sign of St James. The other side bears a letter R within a plain rounded panel with a double linear border. Above the letter is a possible Annunciation lily-pot or ragged staff. The ampulla has not been torn open and is complete.<\/p> Height: 49.44 mm, Width (handle to handle): 28.58mm, Thickness (overall): 10.02 mm, Weight: 54.39g<\/p> Discussion<\/strong><\/p> A similar ampulla with the notably 'R' recorded by Martin Foreman (North Lincs. FLO; NLM-E35714<\/a>) was found in Owersby, Lincolnshire, Foreman discusses the possible significance of the lettering, noting that in Michael Lewis' (2014) catalogue of Saints and their Badges<\/em>, other known figures with 'R' in their name include the Englishman Richard Caister, vicar of St Stephen’s Church, Norwich; and St Roche, a foreign saint invoked to aid against plague. Both were known from badges depicting the saints or their deeds, inter<\/em> alia<\/em>, rather than from initialled ampullae. <\/p> The motif above the R might represent a lily, if so then the R perhaps stands for Our Lady of Reepham or Lady Richelde of Fervaques, the founder of the shrine at Walsingham, with the lily symbolising the Virgin's Purity (see for parallel NMS-EA60AD<\/a>; Anderson 2010, 192, fig.3; Spencer 1980, 16, no. 39). A similar example was discovered in a grave at Thetford with the skeleton of a man who had suffered from a disease that has caused the disintegration of the hop-joint - presumably, he wore the badge in the hope of a miraculous cure (Spencer 1980, 16). There are similar examples at the British Museum, recorded as a representation of a lily (BM acc. no. 1862,0301.7). Alternatively, the design might represent the ragged staff associated with the badge of Richard Earl of Warwick, better known as the Kingmaker (1428-1471) (see for parallel NLM-E35714<\/a>). Livery badges of Richard Earl of Warwick depict a bear with a ragged staff - and there is a very notable absence of a bear on this ampulla. In this case, it is more likely to refer to Lady Richelde or Our Lady of Reepham.<\/p> References cited<\/strong><\/p> Anderson, W., 2010. Blessing the fields? A study of late-medieval ampullae from England and Wales. Medieval Archaeology<\/em>, 54<\/em>(1), pp.182-203.<\/p> Ashley, S. Medieval Ampulla, PAS no. NMS-EA60AD<\/a><\/p> British Museum: Medieval Ampulla from Dunwich (Suffolk). Webpage accessed 15.09.2021: https:\/\/www.britishmuseum.org\/collection\/object\/H_1862-0301-7 <\/p>