Aspersorium and Sprinkler
ca. 1510-ca. 1515 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the Roman Catholic church the congregation is blessed using water contained in a special bucket and a sprinkler, known as an asperge from the Latin ‘aspergere’, to sprinkle.
Ritual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells.
The engraved shield on this bucket bears a variant of the arms of Bocanegra impaling another.
Ritual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells.
The engraved shield on this bucket bears a variant of the arms of Bocanegra impaling another.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Holy-Water bucket and sprinkler, possibly by Espinosa, made in Seville, ca. 1510-1515. |
| Physical description | Hexagonal body with spreading lip and stepped moulded base. Round lip and base are bands of ornament cast from a repeating stamp. Round middle is a band of cable ornament. Angular handle with snake-head finials. Sprinkler: tubular with three moulded bands and knot. |
| Marks and inscriptions | Seville mark: Tower above SEVILL
And mark of Espinosa (maker?) and Nicholas (assayer?) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | JH Fitzhenry Esq. On front engraved is a shield with a variant of the arms of Bocanegra (per saltire, plain and in flank two crosses) impaling another (a lion rampant and in chief a demi-tree -trunk eradicated). The sprinkler would be used to cast holy water on the congregation during the service. Neg no.: 38547 |
| Historical context | Medieval Worship Until the 16th century Roman Catholicism was the universal faith of the Western world and Latin was its universal language. The needs of church ritual inspired the production of a range of richly decorated vessels and vestments, crosses and images in the form of altarpieces. Many were made of gold or silver, adorned with enamels or gems, precious materials seen as symbolic of the reverence due to the worship of God. Less wealthy churches used cheaper vessels in copper, brass or pewter. The celebration of Mass was and remains the most important service of the Roman Catholic liturgy. For this the minimum requirements are an altar, a chalice and missal, the book of texts necessary for the Mass. Holy Communion or Eucharist is that part of the Mass in which the people participate in the sacrifice of Christ, by partaking of his body and blood in the consecrated bread and wine, held in the chalice and paten. |
| Production | Maker unidentified (possibly Espinosa?) |
| Summary | In the Roman Catholic church the congregation is blessed using water contained in a special bucket and a sprinkler, known as an asperge from the Latin ‘aspergere’, to sprinkle. Ritual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells. The engraved shield on this bucket bears a variant of the arms of Bocanegra impaling another. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.71&A-1914 |
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| Record created | February 19, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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