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.
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 |
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| Gallery label |
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| 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
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| Other number | 215 - Spanish pottery, Ray (2000) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 431-1889 |
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| Record created | July 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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