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AMPULLA
Unique ID: LON-97D84F
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Medieval lead alloy pilgrim ampulla dating from AD 1220-1420. The ampulla is 'church' or 'chasse' type, it is hollow-cast, consisting of a large cylinder with a central, smaller cylinder perpendicular to it forming a neck. The neck is flank by two right angled suspension arms with square cross section. Excluding the end panels, the whole object is ornamented with bands of triangle patterns, alternately decorated with hatching and parallel lines. One end depicts an enthroned Becket, nimbate and mitred, his right hand is raised in benediction and there is a staff surmounted by a cross pattée on his left. On the other end, his martyrdom with a single knight wearing a 'great helm' or 'heaume' helmet with his sword poised above a kneeling bareheaded Becket. The saint holds a staff surmounted by a cross pattée between himself and the knight. The ampulla has been crushed and is now deformed.
Dimensions: length: 51.11mm; width: 45.69mm; thickness: 20.40mm; weight: 28.40g.
A very similar ampulla is in the British Museum collection, Museum number 1985,1009.1.
Other Becket 'chasse' type ampulla on the database are LON-2C9155 and LON-0ED648.
Class: Church or Chasse type
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1220
Date to: Circa AD 1420
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 51.11 mm
Width: 45.69 mm
Thickness: 20.4 mm
Weight: 28.4 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: London (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Greater London Authority (Greater London Authority)
District: Tower Hamlets (London Borough)
Parish or ward: St. Katharine's and Wapping (London Borough Ward)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ3380
Four figure Latitude: 51.50329348
Four figure longitude: -0.08515568
1:25K map: TQ3380
1:10K map: TQ38SW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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