Saxon & Medieval — Early Medieval; 13th century
Ampulla of the Holy Cross at Waltham
Stone mould for making ampullae (small bottles for holy water) for pilgrims visiting Waltham Abbey in Essex, which had a famous cross. Bottles made from this mould had the inscription ‘+SIGNVM: SADCTE CRVCIS DE WALThAM’ (meaning ‘sign of the holy cross of Waltham’). The ampullae were made by a process called ‘slush-casting’ where molten tin was poured into a two-piece mould, which was then turned upside down to pour out the excess molten metal. Enough metal would be left in the mould to form a thin-walled bottle.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 8905(1)
- Object name:
- Ampulla of the Holy Cross at Waltham
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
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- Related places:
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- Production date:
- Early Medieval; 13th century
- Material:
- stone
- Measurements/duration:
- H 83 mm, W 69 mm, T 30 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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