Circular copper bottle

Circular copper bottle with neck on side, screw cap missing, two rings attached for carrying, with embossed and chased illustration of baptism of Christ and Coptic(?) inscription, possibly a pilgrim's water bottle or hot water bottle, European or North African, 1751-1830

This beaten copper flask was purchased on behalf of Henry Wellcome from Stevens Auction Rooms, which specialised in objects of 'zoological or scientific interest', including antiquities and ‘curiosities’, in 1919. The auction catalogue describes it as a ‘large pilgrim’s bottle of copper, from Abyssinia’ (Ethiopia), but supplies no further information about its provenance. Similar copper vessels were used to heat beds, or served as hand or foot warmers on long journeys.

A scene depicting the baptism of Christ is embossed and engraved into the metal surface. John the Baptist is depicted on the right, using a cup to sprinkle water over Jesus’s head. An angel, carrying what appears to be a stole, is positioned on the left, and the Holy Spirit, symbolized by a dove, is above them.