St Edward the Confessor

This is a rare example of an ampulla of St Edward the Confessor whose shrine was at Westminster Abbey. Ampullas were bottles for holy water and were often bought by pilgrims at the shrines of saints. Edward reigned as King of England from 1042 to 1066 and was known for his piety and good works. He was canonised in 1161. This ampulla is rather rough and may be a waster (spoilt in manufacture). One side depicts St Edward enthroned, holding a cross and a flowered sceptre, with large crown above. The surrounding inscription is worn and largely illegible: '+QVOS[... ]S' EDWA[…]' (''Whom Saint Edward'). The other side depicts St Peter, patron saint of Westminster Abbey, holding a cross and the keys of Heaven. Here the inscription reads: '+ LAN[..]A : CVM : CLAVIS : ET : CRVX : EST : CELICA : CLAV[.]S ('with keys and the cross is the key to Heaven').