Medieval Aquamanile, Lion

Details
Originally a Persian tradition, aquamanilia were first made out of metal, typically copper or bronze, and were used to pour water for hand washing during both religious and secular rituals.  These elaborated vessels, shaped like animals and humans, were clearly a huge part of Medieval society as hundreds of examples survive and are on display in museums around the world. 

When this tradition reached Europe in the twelfth century, lasting till the fifteenth century, many beautiful metal examples were made for high-status houses.  Not to be outdone, more humble households would have one made of pottery, and the potters working at this time would have taken inspiration from the metal examples they had seen.  This is a tradition that we are carrying on with our range of aquamaniles, which are all inspired by examples of metal aquamaniles from the medieval period. 

'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready. 

'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.

Lion

Lions were a common theme for aquamaniles during the medieval period.  With their broad chest and fierce open mouths, they represent a pride and strength that is still popular today. 

Materials

Terracotta clay with honey glaze

Dimensions

Approx. 200 mm tall, 255 mm long, 115 mm wide

Production

As with all my Museum Quality Replicas, I try to work in a way that is as close as possible  to the methods used by the ancient craftsmen and women who created the original. This pot has been made entirely by hand using natural materials and tools that are replicas of those used by the original maker.

Postage
All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please contact us for a quote. Many Thanks