Aquamanile.
1300-1400
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
An aquamanile was a jug used both in the home and at church for washing hands ('aqua' means water in Latin and 'manus' hand). These jugs were made from precious metals, base metals or ceramic. From the 12th century onwards aquamaniles depicting lions, horses, dragons and other beasts were very popular. The lion was a popular symbol of lordship and power. This object could have been designed to convey the status and importance of its owner or might have referred to a heraldic device.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
Brief description | Bronze vessel in the shape of a lion with a female figure as handle. Possibly Germany, 1300-1400. |
Physical description | Bronze vessel in the shape of a grotesque lion with a female figure holding a sword as handle. |
Dimensions |
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Summary | An aquamanile was a jug used both in the home and at church for washing hands ('aqua' means water in Latin and 'manus' hand). These jugs were made from precious metals, base metals or ceramic. From the 12th century onwards aquamaniles depicting lions, horses, dragons and other beasts were very popular. The lion was a popular symbol of lordship and power. This object could have been designed to convey the status and importance of its owner or might have referred to a heraldic device. |
Bibliographic reference | Bloch, Peter Aquamanilien: Mittelalterliche Bronzen für sakralen und profanen Gebrauch , Gebundene Ausgabe, 1981 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 4054-1856 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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