Description:

A BRONZE AQUAMANILE IN THE FORM OF A LION, NORTH EUROPEAN, PROBABLY GERMAN, 15TH CENTURY
Northern Europe, likely Germany, 15th century 

Description:
Cast bronze aquamanile in the form of a stylised lion, rendered with muscular haunches, upright stance, and incised detailing across the mane and body to simulate fur. The piece displays a short spout integrated into the lion's mouth and a tightly curled tail, though the upper portion (including handle and fill aperture) may be absent or later adapted. The rich patina of the bronze, with traces of dark brown and green oxidation, adds depth and authenticity to this late Gothic liturgical or domestic object.

Dimensions:
Length: 8.5 cm
Height: 7 cm 

Aquamaniles, often in the form of animals, were used for hand-washing in both ecclesiastical and noble domestic settings. The lion, a symbol of strength and sovereignty, was a favoured motif in Northern European metalwork of the Gothic period.

Comparable examples:

  • A rare Gothic bronze lion aquamanile, Lower Saxony, 14th–15th century, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art, 4 July 2019, Lot 51, for £93,750

  • A North German bronze aquamanile in the form of a unicorn, circa 1400, sold at Christie’s, London, The Exceptional Sale, 6 July 2017, Lot 5, for £125,000

  • A Gothic bronze lion aquamanile, German, circa 1450, sold at Lempertz, Cologne, 17 May 2018, Lot 1131, for €86,800.

Note:
Aquamaniles of this size and form were cast using the lost-wax technique and were often symbolic, functional, and ceremonial. This particular lion form—with stylised musculature and sharply incised mane—is consistent with workshops active in North Germany around the late Middle Ages. Its small scale may suggest use for private devotion or travel, adding to its rarity and appeal

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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