Cruet

(Uraeolus, amula, burette) is a vase for-holding the water and wine used at holy communion. Johni de Garlande, writing cir. 1080, says there should be two cruets-one for wine, the other for water. The ancient cruets were very rarely of crystal or glass, generally of enamelled copper, and, in consequence, about the 14th century, were distinguished by the letters V and A to mark their contents. Several ancient examples are preserved — one of the 13th century, at Paris; one, in the form of an angel, of the 14th century, at Aix-la-Chapelle; and another of the 14th or 15th century in the same cathedral, silver gilt. Sometimes the handle was made in the form of a dragon. After the time of the Renaissance the cruets were made of transparent material; there was one at Grandmont Abbey, however, of crystal, mounted in silver, of the 13th century, with an eagle engraved upon it. A cruet for oil, in bronze, used at the coronations of the emperors, and shaped like an antique bust, is preserved in the treasury of Aix-la-Chapelle. Four of silver, of the 9th century, are preserved in the Vatican; they are of classical form. SEE AMA; SEE AMPULLA.