Aquamanile Photos

An aquamanile is a ewer shaped like an animal to pour water for washing hands before meals. The custom of such hand-washing was adopted by European crusaders returning from Muslim countries where aquamaniles were used. Most museum examples are of brass or bronze made in Germanic nations.

Click thumbnail to enlarge. F11 to view website full screen.
Collection of Middle Ages bronze aquamanili hand washing ewers shaped like lions, mythical beast or other figures at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of lion with dog handle from northern Germany at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Copper griffon aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Dragon-shaped copper aquamanile from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
Collection of Middle Ages bronze aquamanili hand washing ewers shaped like lions, mythical beast or other figures at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of lion with dog handle (c1200) from northern Germany at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Copper griffon aquamanile (c1200) from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Dragon-shaped copper aquamanile (c1200) from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
Bronze lion aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Cast bronze aquamanile pouring vessel in shape of lion at Aachen Cathedral Treasury. Aachen, Germany.Bronze aquamanile based upon fantastic bird from Meuse Valley at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Lion-shaped copper aquamanile from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
Bronze lion aquamanile (end 12thC) from Lower Saxony at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Cast bronze aquamanile pouring vessel in shape of lion (c1170-80) at Aachen Cathedral Treasury. Aachen, Germany.Bronze aquamanile based upon fantastic bird (late 12thC) from Meuse Valley at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Lion-shaped copper aquamanile (c1200) from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
Rooster-shaped copper aquamanile from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.Bronze aquamanile in shape of rooster from lower Saxony at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of hunchback from Hildesheim at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of head from lower Saxony at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Rooster-shaped copper aquamanile (c1200) from Northern Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.Bronze aquamanile in shape of rooster (c1300) from lower Saxony at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of hunchback (c1225-30) from Hildesheim at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Bronze aquamanile in shape of head (c1270) from lower Saxony at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Ceramic glazed Aquamanile at Historical Museum of City of Vienna. Vienna, Austria.Bronze aquamanile lion from Hildesheim, Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Bronze lion aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of crowned lion from northern Germany? at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.
Ceramic glazed Aquamanile (13thC) at Historical Museum of City of Vienna. Vienna, Austria.Bronze aquamanile lion (c1250-1300) from Hildesheim, Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Bronze lion aquamanile (2nd half 13thC) from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of crowned lion (late 14thC) from northern Germany? at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.
Bronze lion aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Lion biting dragon copper aquamanile from Northern Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Lion Aquamanile from Nuremberg at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Aquamaniles in form large lion from Nuremberg & small lion made in North Germany at Bavarian National Museum. Munich, Germany.
Bronze lion aquamanile (c1400) from Lower Saxony at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Lion biting dragon copper aquamanile (c1200) from Northern Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Lion Aquamanile (c1425-50) from Nuremberg at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Aquamaniles in form large lion (c1400) from Nuremberg & small lion (early 13thC) made in North Germany at Bavarian National Museum. Munich, Germany.
Bronze lion aquamanile ridden by human & dog from Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Copper griffon aquamanile from Nuremberg at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of dog from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Aquamaniles in form small lion from North Germany & large horse with glass eyes made in Nuremberg at Bavarian National Museum. Munich, Germany.
Bronze lion aquamanile ridden by human & dog (c1400-1500) from Germany at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.Copper griffon aquamanile (c1400) from Nuremberg at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of dog (early 15thC) from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Aquamaniles in form small lion (c1200) from North Germany & large horse with glass eyes (c1400) made in Nuremberg at Bavarian National Museum. Munich, Germany.
Horse-shaped bronze aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of rider on horse from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Collection of Middle Ages bronze aquamanili hand washing ewers shaped like lions, mythical beast or other figures at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Crowned centaur fighting dragon copper aquamanile from Lower Saxony Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Horse-shaped bronze aquamanile (14thC) from Lower Saxony at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.Bronze aquamanile in shape of rider on horse (early 15thC) from Nuremberg at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Collection of Middle Ages bronze aquamanili hand washing ewers shaped like lions, mythical beast or other figures at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Crowned centaur fighting dragon copper aquamanile (c1200-25) from Lower Saxony Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Knight on horseback bronze aquamanile from Lower Saxony Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Samson fighting lion bronze aquamanile from Northern Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Copper alloy lion aquamanile from Lower Saxony at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Bronze lion aquamanile from North Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Knight on horseback bronze aquamanile (c1350) from Lower Saxony Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Samson fighting lion bronze aquamanile (c1380-1400) from Northern Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Copper alloy lion aquamanile (late 13thC - early 14thC) from Lower Saxony at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Bronze lion aquamanile (c1230 or early 19thC) from North Germany (Lübeck?) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Copper alloy horse aquamanile from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Copper alloy horse aquamanile from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Aristotle & Phyllis bronze aquamanile from Southern Netherlands at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Cow or bison drinking horn with silver mounts from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Copper alloy horse aquamanile (c1400-50) from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Copper alloy horse aquamanile (c1400) from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Aristotle & Phyllis bronze aquamanile (late 14thC - early 15thC) from Southern Netherlands at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Cow or bison drinking horn with silver mounts (1436) from Nuremberg, Germany at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Shell lamp held aloft by seated Satyr with pan pipes bronze statuette by workshop of RICCIO of Padua, Italy at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Sea monster with shell inkwell & candle pricket bronze statuette by workshop of Severo Calzetta da Ravenna in Padua at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Silver cigar lighter in shape of antique aquamanile in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Bronze candle stick as woman riding lion from Meuse Valley at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Shell lamp held aloft by seated Satyr with pan pipes bronze statuette (c1515-30) by workshop of RICCIO (Andrea Briosco) of Padua, Italy at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Sea monster with shell inkwell & candle pricket bronze statuette (early 16thC) by workshop of Severo Calzetta da Ravenna in Padua at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Silver cigar lighter in shape of antique aquamanile in dining room at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.Bronze candle stick as woman riding lion (end 12thC) from Meuse Valley at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Coconut shell & silver owl beaker from Northern Germany at RISD Museum. Providence, RI.Bronze model of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem which formed base of church object from lower Saxony at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Earthenware aquamanile in form of ram from England at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
Coconut shell & silver owl beaker (1556) from Northern Germany at RISD Museum. Providence, RI.Bronze model of Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem (influenced by Crusades) which formed base of church object (prob. holding host) (mid1200s) from lower Saxony at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.Earthenware aquamanile in form of ram (c1250-1350) from England at British Museum. London, United Kingdom.
See Also:
All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

CMP