Collecting sightings of aquamaniles could be a new interest of mine, if I let it be. As one of the info cards explains:
"An aquamanile is an animal- or human-shaped vessel for pouring water used in washing the hands, an essential component of religious and secular rituals in medieval society. The word aquamanile derives from the Latin for 'water' (aqua) and 'hand' (manus)."
Julia and I saw a lion shaped aquamanile at LACMA when we went to see the Tut show in 2005:
Aquamanile (ewer) Northern Germany, Lower Saxony, Hildeshiem?, c. 1250 Brass (copper alloy)
Oregon's Portland Art Museum has a similar lion-shaped aquamanile:
Brass Aquamanile North German, 1200-1500 Museum Purchase: Funds provided by the Children's Museum Fund, #44.1
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The designs are often fanciful. Here's a Griffin aquamanile: |
Aquamanile in the form of a lion
Copper alloy, Germany (lower Saxony), 13-14th century
Also at Metropolitan Museum
Here's a very special one, seen at the Met museum in 2008: |
"This aquamanile, inspired by textile designs from the Near East, is perhaps the earliest surviving Western example. It is both beautiful and witty, as water- rather than fire-poured from the dragon's mouth." This piece is from a special exhibit, "Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum - May 20, 2008–August 17, 2008". The London museum was undergoing renovations, hence we were very lucky Stateside to see some of their finest treasures that are rarely lent.
Photos from Metropolitan Museum - Egyptian Galleries Photo index Home
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