AMPULLA

An incomplete medieval (1350 - 1500) lead pilgrim's ampulla, missing its neck and broken just above the rounded bottom half. The break appears to be old and the ampulla is rather squashed but rounded base remains intact. It is decorated on one face with longitudinal grooves radiating outwards from the broken edge, in the scallop shell pattern described by Brian Spencer (SSWM Medieval Catalogue Part 2) as type II. The opposite face has a sub-circular central section which is decorated with a raised cross-hatched pattern with the letter 'S' at the centre. Traces of a shallow rectangle horizontally arranged above the S is probably the band of a crown. Around the edge of the rounded bottom is a raised border (approx. 5.47 mm) which appears to be undecorated.
Both faces are corroded to an off-white to light brown colour. It is 27.04 mm in length, 29.62 mm in width and weighs 13.86 g. It is 3.82 mm thick at its raised border and 2.80 mm at the centre.
Ampullae are known from the late 12th century and were replaced by the popularity of pilgrim badges in the early 14th century, but are thought to have continued in use to the end of the 15^th century. Spencer writes (1990, pp.60-61) that ampullae bearing the crowner letter W have been tentatively associated with the cult of Our Lady of Walsingham (Norfolk). The crown can be accepted as the emblem of the Virgin as Queen of Heaven, and while there is a good case for regarding the W as standing for Walsingham, the letter may also have had a more general meaning as a double V (Virgo Virginum) and M for Maria when inverted.