File:Medieval ampulla (reverse, profile, front) (FindID 225454).jpg

English: A largely complete cast lead medieval ampulla. In plan the ampulla has a scallop shaped lower portion and a narrow straight upper portion with now bent handles on the sides. The ampulla is hollow, with a broadly lozenge sectioned opening at the top. On the front of the ampulla, the scallop shaped portion has bold raised ribs radiating outwards. The reverse of the scallop shell has bold ribs only around the edges, with a flatter central portion on which there is a raised shield design within a shield. The inner shield has a bend to the left and an unidentified design to the right, possibly an annulet. The upper portion has suffered some damage, but is broadly rectangular in section, with rounded edges. The ampulla generally has a matt light brown surface, although the silver grey of the lead is exposed where there has been some recent damage at the top and botton of the front. The ampulla is 60.5 mm long, 34.5mm wide across the scallop, with a maximum thickness of 13.8mm at about its centre point, between scallop and upper section. The shell motif is type I, as identified by Spencer in, "Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue" (1990, p59). This type, "resembles the true scallop, its bold radiating ribs producing a corrugated surface, notched edges and well defined shoulders." (ibid.) Type II more nearly resembles the common cockle with fine grooves and smooth edges (ibid.). Spencer states that: "Ampullae were another important kind of pilgrim souvenir. Generally flask-shaped, but with a narrow, flattish section, they were designed to contain a dose of the thaumaturgic water that was dispensed to pilgrims at many shrines and holy wells. Like pilgrim badges, ampullae, too, were normally made of tin or tin-lead alloy and were provided with a pair of handles or loops so that they could be conveniently suspended from a cord or chain around the wearers neck." (ibid. p57-8). The mouths were usually crimped to seal the contents (ibid. p 61). Spencer points out that the scallop, besides being the badge of St James of Compostella, was the emblem of pilgrimage its self (ibid.). He notes that the arms on an ampulla can be identified in only a few examples (e.g. see ibid. object 130, p. 59 and fig 173). It may be therefore, that they were simple ornamental clichés in many cases. Spencer states that ampullae came into use in the last quarter of the twelfth century and were in England almost the only kind of pilgrim souvenir to be had during the thirteenth century (ibid. p58). He argues that those cast in lead particularly in the fourteenth or fifteenth century are robust. The badge recorded here is similar to the ampullae identified by Spencer (ibid.) especially figures 170-173. These are presumed to come from c.1350-c.1530 (ibid. p.58). This seems the most likely date for the object recoreded here.