South Netherlands, Valley of the Meuse, 15th century / 1400s
Lavabo
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Lavabo as metalwork (South Netherlands, Valley of the Meuse, 15th century · 1400s).
On either side of the handle appear two human faces while the spouts themselves are animals, perhaps lions or dogs.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as brass.
The museum's collection notes: In the Middle Ages a variety of vessels were used for hand washing. This brass container, called a lavabo, was designed to hold a large quantity of water and may have functioned in either a domestic or a liturgical setting. Its large capacity and relatively simple decoration suggests it served a communal function, either in a private home or perhaps in a monastery where it would have served as a hand-washing station near the refectory. In private homes, lavabos of similar design were usually hung from a chain or a trammel hook over or near the fire in the kitchen. The ring inserted at the top of the handle would have allowed for the rotation
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtLavaboOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.