Pilgrim's Ampulla with Scenes of the Crucifixion (front) and the Ascension (back)
Unknown Artist
c. 600
Medium
tin-lead alloy with leather fragments
Dimensions
6.3 × 4.6 × 1.5 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1999.46
About this artwork
The images found on the sides of surviving lead pilgrims' ampullae include scenes relating to the life of Christ, and by extension to the holy sites (loca sancta) where the events took place. Cast into the sides of this ampulla are scenes of Christ's Crucifixion and Ascension. The use of such sacred images on these vessels illustrates the early Christian belief that images were carriers of divine power. This ampulla is known as a "Monza" or "Bobbio" type after caches of similar examples discover...