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Ewer

Ewer

  • Place of origin:

    Scandinavia (probably, made)

  • Date:

    13th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Cast bronze

  • Museum number:

    M.70-1949

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Order this image

This Scandinavian ewer is in the form of a man on horseback, with a two-headed serpent for a handle. It was probably used to carry and pour water. The rider has an opening in his bare head through which the ewer could be filled, and the stallion’s mouth forms the spout.

It is made of bronze, a metal that was particularly suited to casting in moulds to make free-standing objects. This example is a development of a medieval tradition of casting representations of real, fabulous or mythological creatures in brass.

Physical description

In the form of a bare-headed horseman wearing a split surcoat, seated in a high saddle with a saddle cloth. Pendants are roughly engraved beneath the band round the front of the horse. The handle is in the form of a serpent with a head at each end.

Place of Origin

Scandinavia

Date

13th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Cast bronze

Dimensions

Height: 9.25 in
Width: 8 in

Descriptive line

Bronze ewer in the form of a horse and rider, with the handle in the form of a serpent with two heads, Scandanavian(?), 13th century

Materials

Bronze

Techniques

Cast

Subjects depicted

Horse; Figure, Male; Serpent

Categories

Metalwork

Collection code

MET

Order this image
Qr_O92448
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