Bronze Aquamanile with Horse and Rider
Early 19th century A.D. A bronze aquamanile portraying a mounted rider, both horse and rider modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic anatomical and facial features; the horse standing facing forwards, ears pinned back and with short tail; the male figure positioned with one hand on the reins, the other raised to eye level, wearing period costume and boots; rectangular vessel mouth behind horse's forelock with remains of hinge for a lid (absent), conical pouring spout to its lower chest; some splits; modelled on c.15th century German examples. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 47.101.54, for a similar 15th century A.D. example from Germany. Williamson, P., Wyvern Collection 'Medieval Sculpture', Thames and Hudson, 2018, p.361, cat.187. 5.6 kg, 30.5 cm high (12 in.). Acquired from St Marys Convent, Peekshill, New York.From Emily Gagnon, Dallas, USA.UK private collection, 2002. The practical function of the aquamanile was to pour clean water over the hands before dining, and in religious contexts to symbolically purify the body before undertaking communion. The origins of the form are often traced to the area of Iran, and it reached Western Europe through contacts with the Byzantine Empire.