Aquamanile in the Form of a Ram

Aquamanile in the Form of a Ram:

Ryan's sketch:

Analysis:

Background: Here is a brief background on aquamaniles as well as many other examples of the aesthetically pleasing and practical art. Basically, the small, beautiful animals/human figures hold water used primarily for washing hands. Specifically, the medieval church used aquamaniles in many ceremonies and rituals. However, it was not limited to just the church. Many noble families used aquamaniles before and after meals as a means of cleansing. Aquamaniles were a very popular art form in the medieval period. I mean just imagine washing your hand out of THIS THING! Most aquamaniles were made of a copper alloy, but the particular one that I am analyzing is clay, a lesser valued material.

The artist of this particular piece is unknown, however, it was likely to be a potter working with one of the many kilns in Scarborough, England.

It is approximated that the piece was created around 1300. The title of the work is unknown, however, the website calls it "Aquamanile in the Form of a Ram." The aquamanile was made of glazed earthenware, probably clay, and is 9 7/16in. x 11 1/2in. x 5 1/4in.

A plethora of aquamaniles were created for an array of different usages in the medieval time period. Whether it was for liturgical purposes or just table decorations at ceremonies, they were mainly used by nobility. A common theory for the origin of aquamaniles stems to the late Roman and early Byzantine empires, as well as Islamic cultures. It is likely that trade and plunder from Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic trade routes brought aquamaniles to Western Europe. Metalworkers and potters in Western Europe already had the skill to create this art form, just lacked the idea. Most surviving aquamaniles come from Germany between 1200 and 1350, however, aquamaniles have been found in Russia and all over England.

The idea behind aquamaniles is simply a creative and aesthetically pleasing art piece that serves the function of storing and pouring small amounts of water. Due to the small amount of requirements, there are many different forms of aquamaniles. Some come in the shape of animals, mythical creatures, humans, and some even depict an event (typically biblical). Very similar to modern day handheld glass work, created by the means of glass blowing. Here are a few examples of other aquamaniles:

 

   

The artist of the piece that  I am analyzing used a kiln combined with earthenware to create his/her masterpiece. He then glazed his piece in a green paint. The piece is not very large, so serious pottery skills were required to make "Aquamanile in the Form of a Ram." It appears to me that the artist overemphasizes the chest portion of the ram, making it seem fat. The artist also uses vertical lines all throughout the middle section of the piece that make the chest portion seem even fatter. The back legs are very similar to the chest portion, whereas the stomach appears to bow inwards from both the top and the bottom. This design might translate to a more effective use of carrying water. It is actually very similar to the ram I provided as an example on the right side of the page above. I believe the vertical lines provide some texture to the relatively smooth form of pottery. I wish that the piece was more intact and experienced less ware so that the horns would still be attached to the piece. I think that the horns might provide a better explanation as to why the snout of the ram is so long. I think the glossy green color complements the theme of the ram well because its purpose is to, more or less, pour small amounts of water. The glossy green adds a watery sort of effect. Most aquamaniles have a handle, and I believe the handle of the ram is effectively placed. The handle is in a position where the water would be balanced on both sides of the ram, and water would be easily poured if holding the aquamanile by the handle. Its shape, color, and appearance is aesthetically pleasing, and it would provide an entertaining way of pouring water.

The function of aquamanile is mentioned previously in this post many times. However I think it extremely important to note these pieces relevance in today's society. The first thing I was reminded of when delving into more research on aquamaniles was glass pipes. I have seen many live performances where a glass blower creates a creative animal or human figure out of glass. I believe that glass art seen in modern day society may have originated from aquamaniles of Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic cultures. Some examples of similar modern glass artwork in the form of glass pipes include: