Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

A lead pilgrim’s ampullae, 15th century, of flask shape with handles each side, decorated on one side with a shield divided by a horizontal bar, the upper half with two bezants, the lower half with an ‘I’ for James of Compostella, the reverse decorated in the form of a scallop shell, length 55 mm, width 35 mm. £80-£100

Found in Dorset.

The scallop shell is the symbol of St James of Compostela (James the Great), one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first disciples to join Jesus. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The traditional pilgrimage to his grave, known as the "Way of St. James", has been the most popular pilgrimage for Western European Catholics from the Early Middle Ages.