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Holy water fl ask Glass Late 19th–early 20th century RR0118.11 / A660489 Science Museum / L0076087 Wellcome Images
Holy water fl ask Painted glass Late 19th–early 20th century RRa0118.8 / A660614 Science Museum / L0076081 Wellcome Images
This flask painted with the image of St Nicholas (270–343) may come from the basilica in Bari, Italy, where the saint’s remains are claimed to lie. On 9 May every year, the ‘manna of St Nicholas’ – water that forms in his tomb – is collected during a special mass. Amounting to no more than 50 ml in volume, this ‘pure’ water is mixed with holy water and sold in decorated glass bottles as a curative drink.
Holy water fl ask Painted glass 19th century RRa0118.14 / A660480 Science Museum / L0076094 Wellcome Images