Western/Central Europe, Medieval Period, ca. 11th to 14th century CE. A mold-cast lead pilgrim's ampulla of a petite size with a compressed circular body and a pair of attenuated handles joined to the projecting neck. The exterior periphery of the vessel is flattened and adorned with dense linear motifs that extend onto both sides of the body to form minimalist depictions of saintly figures. Such ampullae would have been brought back with a pilgrim from a holy site, similar to a souvenir, and perhaps held holy water from a shrine. Size: 2.1" W x 2.55" H (5.3 cm x 6.5 cm)

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#160475

Slight bending to overall form of exterior periphery, with one small perforation to one side, nicks and chips to peripheries and rim, and softening to linear motifs in some areas. Great patina throughout.