Pouring Vessel thumbnail 1
Pouring Vessel thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Pouring Vessel

1520-50 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The spout of this extraordinary pouring vessel is formed by the beak of a fantastic animal head. The vessel can be filled through another opening towards the rear. The decoration in lustre shows a heraldic lion in a shield and the inscription 'SURGE DOMINE', repeated seven times. The inscription which can be found on several pieces of Spanish lustreware is short for 'Exsurge Domine ad liberandum nos' which translates 'Rise Lord to free us'. It is derived from an important Papal bull, issued at Worms on 15th June 1520, condemning the errors of Martin Luther.
Pouring vessels in the shape of animals and mostly made in bronze were popular during the medieval period. They were used together with a basin to wash the hands at the table before a meal. They were also used in church the cleanse the priest's hands before the Eucharist. The inscription on our pouring vessel suggests that it might have been used in a Christian (Catholic) context.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration
Brief description
Pouring vessel, made in Manises, Valencia, Spain, 1520-50, tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration
Physical description
Cylindrical pouring vessel with two openings connected with a handle. Tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration. The beak in the head of a fantastic animal serves as the spout. Inscribed in Latin, 'Arise O Lord', suggests this vessel was used in a Christian context.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.6cm
  • Width: 32.6cm
  • Depth: 16.4cm
Gallery label
Pouring vessel Made in Manises, Valencia, Spain after 1520 Tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration 431-1889 Gift of Mr W. Bell Scott, FRSA(16/07/2008)
Credit line
Given by Mr W. Bell Scott FRSA
Production
Exsurge Domine was a Papal bull issued on June 15, 1520 at the Diet of Worms by Pope Leo X in response to the 95 theses of Martin Luther.
Summary
The spout of this extraordinary pouring vessel is formed by the beak of a fantastic animal head. The vessel can be filled through another opening towards the rear. The decoration in lustre shows a heraldic lion in a shield and the inscription 'SURGE DOMINE', repeated seven times. The inscription which can be found on several pieces of Spanish lustreware is short for 'Exsurge Domine ad liberandum nos' which translates 'Rise Lord to free us'. It is derived from an important Papal bull, issued at Worms on 15th June 1520, condemning the errors of Martin Luther.
Pouring vessels in the shape of animals and mostly made in bronze were popular during the medieval period. They were used together with a basin to wash the hands at the table before a meal. They were also used in church the cleanse the priest's hands before the Eucharist. The inscription on our pouring vessel suggests that it might have been used in a Christian (Catholic) context.
Bibliographic reference
Ray, Anthony. Spanish Pottery 1248-1898 : with a catalogue of the collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum London, V&A Publications, 2000
Other number
215 - Spanish pottery, Ray (2000)
Collection
Accession number
431-1889

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 16, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest