Aquamanile

A Aquamanile (also: Aquaemanale, Aquimanile, Aquiminale, Aquiminarium ) is a vessel for hand washing, either in liturgical actions ( then usually made of metal / bronze ) or in the secular sphere before meals ( then made ​​of ceramic material). Shown are mostly animal figures and mythical creatures, but also knight in full armor can be found.

Source area is the Orient, through trade reached Aquamanile the early Middle Ages to Europe and were assimilated. The oldest Aquamanile had the shape of a human head, such as a vessel, which is kept at the Aachen Cathedral. Your heyday they had in the High and Late Middle Ages.

The largest collection of high and late medieval Bronzeaquamanilien is located in the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen, a more extensive can be seen in the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg.