Fig. 302.
Another vessel, of analogous character, preserved in the Scarborough Museum, is engraved on Fig. [299]. It is in the form of an animal with a twisted horn, but its handle and other parts are imperfect. It is covered with a green glaze, and was, there cannot be the shadow of a doubt, made at Scarborough, where, as I shall show, the remains of a potter’s kiln was found in 1854, but has not, as yet, been named in any work on pottery.
A jug, which would almost appear to have been the origin of the bellarmine, to be hereafter described, was communicated by Mr. Kirwan to the Journal of the British Archæological Association,[35] where it is engraved. It is covered with green glaze, and bears a well and powerfully moulded head, with the flowing hair and beard so characteristic of the time of Edward I., II., and III. To this period some clay moulds for the forming of faces upon mediæval pottery, found at Lincoln by Mr. Arthur Trollope, may be assigned; they are engraved by Marryatt,[36] and will be referred to later on in this volume. It will be seen, too, on comparison of this jug with the fragments of Norman pottery on another page, that it is the same kind of general idea, somewhat amplified, but carried out in the taste of the day.
Fig. 303.
Fig. 304.
Fig. 305.
The costrils, or pilgrims’ bottles as they are commonly called, i.e., bottles for liquor to be carried and hung on the person, were much made in the Middle Ages, and although usually plain, were, nevertheless, sometimes rather highly decorated. Fig. [300] is the shape mostly known as a pilgrim’s bottle, and will be seen to vary but little from the flattened globular amphora of Roman times (Fig. [303]). Sometimes they had four loops instead of handles, so that the strap could pass through the four loops and make the carrying safer. To this class a remarkably fine example in the Roach Smith collection in the British Museum belongs. On one side are the royal arms of Henry VIII. within a rose and garter, and with supporters and crown, with the legend DNE SALVVM FAC REGEM REGINAM ET REGNVM (God keep safe the King, Queen, and kingdom): on the other side are four medallions: one contains the sacred monogram, I.H.S.; two others have radiating patterns, and the fourth a heart, with loveknot of flowers and the word LEAL. Fig. [303] shows another example, somewhat of the form of Figs. [300] and [302]; but in this case it is globular, or gourd-shaped, and not flattened on the sides, and the handles for the loops are simply flat pieces of clay pierced for suspension. This interesting example, which is of Tickenhall make, belongs to Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart., and is mottled with green all over its surface. Another excellent form of mediæval “pilgrim’s bottle” was found at Collingbourne Ducis by the Rev. W. C. Lukis, F.S.A. It is of barrel shape, and has handles and mouth at the top, and, at the bottom, a stand. In front is a face surrounded by oak-leaves, within a circle of foliage, all in relief, and above this is an aperture. Other vessels partaking of the barrel-shape and mammiform character are also met with: some of their forms will be seen on Figs. [304 to 307]. When carried, they would be slung by the handles in the same manner as others; but when not in use, instead of having a base, as in Fig. [303], one end is seen to be flattened for it to stand upon; the other end is in form of a woman’s breast—this, of course, in allusion to the use of the vessel, from the mouth of which the person who used it would drink or “suck” the liquor it contained. A much more perfectly formed mammiform bottle I give, from a beautiful drawing furnished me, with others, by my friend the late Mr. F. C. Lukis, F.S.A., on Figs. [304] and [305]. It is gourd-shaped, with one side flattened to prevent its rolling when set down, and the other side is a beautifully formed female breast. It is four and a half inches in height, and holds about half a pint.