pilgrim badge;
souvenir;
ampulla
- Museum number
- 2001,0702.6
- Description
-
Lead alloy pilgrim souvenir, from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury, in the form of a ship-shaped ampulla. The ship forms a crescent with grotesque animal heads at its stem and stern posts. A high relief representation of Becket, with a crosier that extends outwards, appears at the centre on the front of the ampulla's spout. The spout is flanked by two curved handles decorated with hatching.
- Production date
- 1170-1250 (?)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 43.74 millimetres
-
Width: 85.92 millimetres
-
Depth: 22.06 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- This is likely to have been made to celebrate the Regressio Sancti Thomae, a festival which commemorated Becket's triumphal return from exile, prior to his martyrdom.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2021 20 May- 22 Aug, London, BM, Room 35 – Thomas Becket: Murder and the Making of a Saint
2019 14 Jan-28 Feb, Lichfield Cathedral, Pilgrimage and Prayer
2011 23 June-9 Oct, London, BM, 'Treasures of Heaven'
2010-2011 17 Oct-6 Jan, Ohio, Cleveland Museum of Art, 'Treasures of Heaven'
- Condition
- Good.
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Martrydom of St Thomas à Becket 1170
- Acquisition date
- 2001
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 2001,0702.6
