Ewer thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 10a, The Françoise and Georges Selz Gallery

Ewer

1300-1400 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This copper alloy jug on three supporting feet is typical of this type of vessel in having an animal-head, probably a dragon, as its spout. Most surviving examples of this design date from the late 13th to the 15th centuries and were probably made in Flanders, but some were undoubtedly made in other metalworking centres in Europe, such as London or Nuremberg. These jugs were probably used for water, or ale.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Copper alloy
Brief description
Bronze ewer with rounded body, three legs and a dragon-head spout, Flemish, 14th century
Physical description
Copper alloy, cast in the form of a hollow rounded body with three solid legs, one a later replacement ; a dragon-head spout and plain bow handle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 22cm
  • Width: 13.2cm
  • Depth: 18.8cm
  • Weight: 1.64kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Credit line
Given by The Countess of Loudoun
Object history
This was found in a disused well at Ashby-de-la-Zouch castle in 1937.The well had probably been disused since the building of an adjoining tower in 1476.
Subject depicted
Summary
This copper alloy jug on three supporting feet is typical of this type of vessel in having an animal-head, probably a dragon, as its spout. Most surviving examples of this design date from the late 13th to the 15th centuries and were probably made in Flanders, but some were undoubtedly made in other metalworking centres in Europe, such as London or Nuremberg. These jugs were probably used for water, or ale.
Collection
Accession number
M.25-1939

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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