Holy water flask
Medieval pilgrims often pinned a small flask of holy water to their clothing. The flask, or ampulla, both showed you were a pilgrim but also protected you against all the misfortunes on your journey. Most ampullae were made of lead and must have been reasonably cheap to buy. This one was found at Dartington near Totnes and is made of glass and must have been a more expensive item.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 498/2005/2/1
- Category
- Antiquities
- Collection Class
- Devon archaeology
- Collection Area Region
- Northern Europe
- Collector Excavator
- Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit
- Material
- glass
- Common Name
- holy water flask
- Simple Name
- flask
- Period Classification
- Medieval (1200-1500)
- Production Year Low
- 1350
- Production Year High
- 1500
