£50
A quality medieval pilgrim's ampulla, flat and bag-shaped, moulded from a lead alloy and decorated. One side shows a scallop shell design associated with the Camino de Santiago, the route to the tomb of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela. The other side shows a symbol on the bulbous part, perhaps a crowned 'W' or double 'V' initial. This indicates a possible origin in Walsingham, a major medieval pilgrimage site in North Norfolk, the double V also standing for Virgo Virginum, i.e. Mary, the Virgin of Virgins. The neck of the vessel would likely also have been decorated, but this is not visible. Weight: 51.9g. Dimensions: 50mm tall, 32mm wide. Condition: one side lug is missing, and the hollow area is crushed, as is typical of ampulla found by detectorists.
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