An aquamanile (ewer) was used for washing hands, as indicated by its name, derived from the Latin words aqua (water) and manus (hand). Filled through a hole at the top and emptied through the spout that extends from the lion’s mouth, this ewer’s handle is formed by the lion’s curling tail and the arched body of a serpent standing on the lion’s back. As hollow vessels, aquamanilia required considerable skill to create after modeling in wax and casting in the “lost wax” method by metalworkers who specialized in copper and its alloys. Medieval texts and illuminated manuscripts indicate the use of aquamanilia both at home and in church services, where the ritual of washing hands by priests was symbolic of spiritual cleansing. Handwashing was no less important at medieval banquets, as guests ate most food with their fingers.
Aquamanilia made in the northern Germanic region, such as this example, survive in a variety of designs, ranging from wild animals and mythical beasts to human figures on horseback. Lion-shaped ewers, the largest surviving group, vary in the details of their stance, expression, and elaboration of their manes, as different workshops developed distinct styles. Here, the engraved whiskers, upright ears, and embellished collar relate to a group made in Lower Saxony. The lion’s stance with rear legs extended conveys the animal’s energy and may have been inspired by the monumental bronze lion created in the twelfth century and dedicated to the duke of Saxony that formerly dominated the center of Brunswick, Germany.
