OK… So about 30 minutes ago, I shipped off my entry for the Politarchopolis Baronial Championship A&S Comp… I was actually quite impressed with how the documentation came out, even though there were a few shortcuts taken and some information left out of it. Next I need to start work on my entry for November Crown’s A&S Comp, which just happens to be “Pilgrims Badges”.

I am going to take a slight sideways step, and recreate a period ampulla, like the type that were used by the pilgrims to carry holywater or blessed oil back from the site of their pilgramige. These Ampullae were hollow cast using a slush casting method to provide a cheap and easy to reproduce, but original piece that could act as both a means of carrying something sealed within, and as a souvenir of the pilgramige made. Sometimes these Ampullae were discovered still containing their contents, however most opened, their contents being used. Normally I would choose not to recreate a specific piece, however this time, I have a specific peice in mind to recreate, and shall attempt to do so as close to the original as possible. Having only a small amount of information though, and mainly only a photograph to work from, there might be a great deal that needs to be guessed at.

This coming project is one of pure re-creation, and as such I shall attempt to not only create the ampulla to be the same size as the discovered piece, I shall also attempt to create it in the same pewter alloy as would have been used in period. Hopefully I have enough time.

If any of my readers have any more information on the Ampulla pictured from other sources other than Pilgrim Souvenirs and Selcular Badges by Brian Spencer, feel free to add information via comments, or email me direct if you have my email.