Ewers

	Ewers
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Ewers are tall vessels, often lidded, with a spout, used for containing water for handwashing; they frequently appear (at least iconographically speaking) with a bowl, used as a basin. An anthropomorphic or zoomorphic vessel used for this function is an aquamanile. Some of these are listed out of chronological sequence, especially when two or more ewers are strikingly similar -- for example, Met 1944(44.15) and British Museum ME OA 1848.8-5.2. Ewer with dancing females within arcades, Sasanian Iran, c. 6th-7th century Ewer made in Iran in the 7th century Bronze ewer with a cock-shaped spout made in Syria in the 8th-early 9th century Bronze ewer made in 8th-9th century Iran Bronze ewer made in Khorasan in the 8th-10th centuries Fragmentary luster-painted earthenware ewer made in 9th century Iraq, probably Basra Glass ewer with birds and animals probably made in Nishapur, Iran, 10th century The Buckley Ewer, made in Egypt or Iran c. 950-1050 Rock crystal ewer, made in Cairo c. 1000-1050 Bronze ewer with inscriptions and hunting scenes and a pomegranate finial on the handle, made in Nishapur, Iran, 11th century Bronze ewer with pomegranate-shaped thumb rest, Iran, 11th-12th century Ewer made in 12th century Iran Ewer with calligraphic band made in 12th century Iran Ewers with lamp-shaped spouts made in 12th century Iran: Met 54.64 and Met 33.96 Christ in front of Pilate, a bible (BNF Copte 13, fol. 82v), c. 1178-1180 Cockerel-Head Ceramic Ewers Ewer with fish-decorations, 13th century Kashan Ewer made in 13th century Iran Fritware ewer with paint and colored glaze, made in Kashan c. 1200-1220 Ewer made in Khurasan, Iran, c. 1180-1210 High-spouted brass ewer made in Herat, Afghanistan, c. 1180-1200 Ewer in luster-painted stonepaste made in Rayy, Iran, 12th-13th century Ewer inscribed in floriated Kufic in luster-painted stonepaste made in Raqqa, Syria, first half of the 13th century Molded fritware ewer with turquoise glaze, made in Gorgan or Kashan, c. 1220 Brass ewer with inlaid and engraved decoration, made in western Iran c. 1220-1240 The Blacas Ewer, made in Mosul in 1232 Banquet, Voeux du paon (BNF Fr. 790, fol. 135v), first quarter of the 14th century Rock crystal ewer made in Paris, c. 1300-1350 The so-called ewer of St. Elizabeth, 14th century Hexagonal ewer with enamelled scenes, 1320s Ewer in inlaid and engraved brass made in Egypt in the first half of the 14th century Works of mercy, bible (BNF Grec 135, fol. 157), c. 1361-1362 Mary Magdalene washing Christ's feet with her hair, Speculum humanae salviationis (BNF Arsenal 593, fol. 16), second part of the 14th century Tripod Ewers The Gilbert Ewer, early 14th century 14th century bronze ewer found in Co. Meath A bronze ewer at the Museum Vleeshuis, c. 1391-1400 Copper-alloy tripod ewers made in Flanders in the 14th-15th centuries, V&A M.202-1926 and also M.25-1939); the comments note that "It may have been used to serve mulled wine, which was a popular drink at the time. We are reasonably certain that it was not used to heat or serve water because other vessels served this function." Bronze tripod ewers found in Scotland, dating from the 14th or 15th centuries: Innermessan; Dalkieth; Loch Leys; Balgone (?); Balgone; Denny; Biggar; Hill of Auchintilloch; Castlelaw; Birrens; Closeburn Hall; Dunbar; Biggar; and Carleith A brass ewer at the Museum Mayer van den Bergh, 15th century Ewer with a jasper body and silver-gilt mounts, German or Rhenish, 14th-15th century Hexagonal ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century, found at Urquhart Castle in Inverness-shire Octangular ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century (its handle and spout broken off), found near Traquair in Peeblesshire A brass ewer made in 15th century Germany A brass ewer made in 15th century Germany Two brass ewers made in 15th century Germany Dragon-headed spout from a ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century, found at Bothwell Castle in Lanarkshire A ewer with a lion at the spout and a serpent for the handle, made in Germany c. 1401-1415 15th century brass ewer with a lion spout; this ewer may be the same one 16th century brass ewer with a dragon handle and a lion spout A ewer, 15th century Than sodenly was brought hym tho An ewer wyth watyr and a basyn Bothe they were of golde full fyne A towell therwyth of Parys werke This servyce was to hym full derke For man ne childe cowde he none see He washith his handes and oute yede he Partonope of Blois, ll. 331-337 Christ before Pilate, The Hours of Marguerite d'Orléns (BNF Latin 1156 B, fol. 135), c. 1426 Madonna with the Child Reading by Jan van Eyck, 1433 Madonna with the Child by Robert Campin, c. 1433-1435 Right wing of the Werl Altarpiece by Robert Campin, 1438 Detail from the center panel of the Annunciation Triptych by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1440 Jason and Medea undress (fol. 18r) and Teuthras on his deathbed (fol. 97v), The Trojan War (ÖNB 2773), c. 1445-1450 Detail with ewer and basin in The Death of Mary in an altarpiece from Klagenfurt, c. 1445-1455 Brass ewers with a pedestal foot and zoomorphic handle and spout, made in Flanders in the 15th century - V&A 539-1869 and 540-1869) A ewer made in Nuremburg c. 1450 Euer when he clepithe, wayte redy & entende, basoun and ewere, & on your shuldur a towelle. John Russell's Book of Nurture, c. 1460-1475 The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 19081, fol. 202), middle of the 15th century The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 1312, fol. 45v), middle of the 15th century Detail from Madonna with the Child from Klosterneuburg, c. 1455-1465 Pompey insults Plautius Hypsaeus (fol. 458v) and Massinissa guarded by his dogs (fol. 483v), Facta et dicta memorabilia (BNF Fr. 289), second half of the 15th century The marriage of Urien of Poitou and Hermine, Melusine (BNF Fr. 24383, fol. 14), second half of the 15th century The Circumcision of Christ by Friedrich Herlin, 1466 A maiolica ewer in a detail from Adoration of the Magi by an artist in the circle of Frueauf, c. 1475-1485 Alexander receives gifts, History of Alexander the Great (BNF Fr. 257, fol. 194v), fourth quarter of the 15th century Detail from The Adoration of the Magi, c. 1480-1490 Detail from Christ before Pilate in an altarpiece at Fridolfing, c. 1485-1495 Bronze ewer made in Hungary in the late 15th century Brass ewer made in the Netherlands, Germany, and/or Syria, late 15th century Brass ewer with silver and copper inlay, made in Egypt in 1496 A brass ewer made in Germany or the Netherlands in the 15th-16th centuries Ewer in lapis-blue glass with enamel, made in Venice c. 1480 Glass ewer with gold leaf and enamel decoration, late 15th or early 16th century Murano Glass ewer, enamel and gilt, made in Venice c. 1500 Job on the dungheap, Hours of Henry VIII (Morgan MS H.8, fol. 127v), c. 1500 Brass ewer with a lion spout, made in the Netherlands c. 1500 An English pewter spouted flagon, c. 1500 Pewter ewer, made c. 1500 Detail from Christ before Pilate by Jörg Breu the Elder, c. 1500-1502 Silver-gilt ewer with enamelled Wild Man finial and another, made in Nuremburg c. 1500 Venetian Chalcedony Ewers Chalcedony ewer made in Venice c. 1450 Ewer, Venice, c. 1500 Chalcedony ewer, made in Venice c. 1500-1525 The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 12322, fol. 191), c. 1520-1530 Porcelain ewer with the heraldry of the Portuguese family of Peixoto, made in Jingdezhen, China, c. 1522-1566 Silver ewer made in Toledo or Cuenca c. 1530 Saint-Porchaire Ewers Saint-Porchaire ewer, made in France c. 1530-1550 Ewer , Saint-Porchaire, c. 1540-1567 Engraved brass ewer, made in Venice in the early 16th century Brass ewer, engraved and damascened with silver, made in Venice or Cairo, 1450-1550 Copper ewer made in Venice c. 1530 Copper ewer made in Venice in the 16th century Gilt brass ewer made in Venice c. 1540 Silver-gilt ewer with enamelled plaques, made in Istanbul c. 1530-1550 Mold-blown glass ewer with applied blue decoration, made in 16th century northern Spain or southern France Ewer with Tughra-illuminator style decoration, Iznik, Turkey, c. 1525-1540 Bronze ewer found in the Highlands of Scotland, 16th century Bronze ewer found at Loanhead, 16th century Ewer made in 16th century France Silver-gilt ewer and basin made in mid-16th century Antwerp Ewer and basin of Charles V, 1558-1559 Ewer by Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, c. 1559 Crystal and silver-gilt ewer with the heraldry of John Erskine, Earl of Mar, made by James Cockie, c. 1565-1567 Silver-gilt ewer and basin, made in Venice c. 1580 Ewer made of Wanli-period Chinese porcelain (c. 1573-1620) with English silver-gilt mounts (c. 1585) Gilt silver ewer, made in 16th century Spain Silver ewer made in 16th century Spain Parcel-gilt silver ewer with basin, made in Spain c. 1580-1599 Leaded-glass ewer made in 16th century England Ewer with a man holding a banner, France, second half of the 16th century (also here and here) The basin and ewer of Temperance made by François Briot, second half of the 16th century Lead-glazed earthenware ewers made by Bernard Palissy, second half of the 16th century - V&A 7178-1860 and C.2306-1910 Copper ewer, made in Italy in the late 16th century Soft-paste porcelain ewer manufactured in the Medici workshops c. 1575-1587 Ewer with representations of the seasons and regions of the world by Caspar Enderlein, c. 1580-1600 Parcel-gilt silver ewer and basin made by Abraham Pflegler I in 1583 Silver-gilt ewer made by Agostino dei Musi, c. 1583-1584 Brass ewer cast in the form of a mermaid, made in Flanders in the late 16th century Fritware ewer, made in Iznik c. 1590-1600 Copper ewer, c. 1591-1610 Iznik ewer (second half of the 16th century) with English silver-gilt mounts (c. 1597-1598) Silver-gilt ewer with the Triumph of Julius Caesar or the Triumph of Scipio Africanus made in Rome c. 1600 Silver-gilt ewer with serpents for the handle and spout, made in London c. 1604-1605

Ewers are tall vessels, often lidded, with a spout, used for containing water for handwashing; they frequently appear (at least iconographically speaking) with a bowl, used as a basin. An anthropomorphic or zoomorphic vessel used for this function is an aquamanile.

Some of these are listed out of chronological sequence, especially when two or more ewers are strikingly similar -- for example, Met 1944(44.15) and British Museum ME OA 1848.8-5.2.

Ewer with dancing females within arcades, Sasanian Iran, c. 6th-7th century
Ewer made in Iran in the 7th century
Bronze ewer with a cock-shaped spout made in Syria in the 8th-early 9th century
Bronze ewer made in 8th-9th century Iran
Bronze ewer made in Khorasan in the 8th-10th centuries
Fragmentary luster-painted earthenware ewer made in 9th century Iraq, probably Basra
Glass ewer with birds and animals probably made in Nishapur, Iran, 10th century
The Buckley Ewer, made in Egypt or Iran c. 950-1050
Rock crystal ewer, made in Cairo c. 1000-1050
Bronze ewer with inscriptions and hunting scenes and a pomegranate finial on the handle, made in Nishapur, Iran, 11th century
Bronze ewer with pomegranate-shaped thumb rest, Iran, 11th-12th century
Ewer made in 12th century Iran
Ewer with calligraphic band made in 12th century Iran
Ewers with lamp-shaped spouts made in 12th century Iran: Met 54.64 and Met 33.96
Christ in front of Pilate, a bible (BNF Copte 13, fol. 82v), c. 1178-1180

Cockerel-Head Ceramic Ewers

Ewer with fish-decorations, 13th century Kashan
Ewer made in 13th century Iran
Fritware ewer with paint and colored glaze, made in Kashan c. 1200-1220

Ewer made in Khurasan, Iran, c. 1180-1210
High-spouted brass ewer made in Herat, Afghanistan, c. 1180-1200
Ewer in luster-painted stonepaste made in Rayy, Iran, 12th-13th century
Ewer inscribed in floriated Kufic in luster-painted stonepaste made in Raqqa, Syria, first half of the 13th century
Molded fritware ewer with turquoise glaze, made in Gorgan or Kashan, c. 1220
Brass ewer with inlaid and engraved decoration, made in western Iran c. 1220-1240
The Blacas Ewer, made in Mosul in 1232
Banquet, Voeux du paon (BNF Fr. 790, fol. 135v), first quarter of the 14th century
Rock crystal ewer made in Paris, c. 1300-1350
The so-called ewer of St. Elizabeth, 14th century
Hexagonal ewer with enamelled scenes, 1320s
Ewer in inlaid and engraved brass made in Egypt in the first half of the 14th century
Works of mercy, bible (BNF Grec 135, fol. 157), c. 1361-1362
Mary Magdalene washing Christ's feet with her hair, Speculum humanae salviationis (BNF Arsenal 593, fol. 16), second part of the 14th century

Tripod Ewers

The Gilbert Ewer, early 14th century
14th century bronze ewer found in Co. Meath
A bronze ewer at the Museum Vleeshuis, c. 1391-1400
Copper-alloy tripod ewers made in Flanders in the 14th-15th centuries, V&A M.202-1926 and also M.25-1939); the comments note that "It may have been used to serve mulled wine, which was a popular drink at the time. We are reasonably certain that it was not used to heat or serve water because other vessels served this function."
Bronze tripod ewers found in Scotland, dating from the 14th or 15th centuries: Innermessan; Dalkieth; Loch Leys; Balgone (?); Balgone; Denny; Biggar; Hill of Auchintilloch; Castlelaw; Birrens; Closeburn Hall; Dunbar; Biggar; and Carleith
A brass ewer at the Museum Mayer van den Bergh, 15th century

Ewer with a jasper body and silver-gilt mounts, German or Rhenish, 14th-15th century
Hexagonal ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century, found at Urquhart Castle in Inverness-shire
Octangular ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century (its handle and spout broken off), found near Traquair in Peeblesshire
A brass ewer made in 15th century Germany
A brass ewer made in 15th century Germany
Two brass ewers made in 15th century Germany
Dragon-headed spout from a ewer made in northern Europe in the 15th century, found at Bothwell Castle in Lanarkshire
A ewer with a lion at the spout and a serpent for the handle, made in Germany c. 1401-1415
15th century brass ewer with a lion spout; this ewer may be the same one
16th century brass ewer with a dragon handle and a lion spout
A ewer, 15th century

Than sodenly was brought hym tho
An ewer wyth watyr and a basyn
Bothe they were of golde full fyne
A towell therwyth of Parys werke
This servyce was to hym full derke
For man ne childe cowde he none see
He washith his handes and oute yede he

Partonope of Blois, ll. 331-337

Christ before Pilate, The Hours of Marguerite d'Orléns (BNF Latin 1156 B, fol. 135), c. 1426
Madonna with the Child Reading by Jan van Eyck, 1433
Madonna with the Child by Robert Campin, c. 1433-1435
Right wing of the Werl Altarpiece by Robert Campin, 1438
Detail from the center panel of the Annunciation Triptych by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1440
Jason and Medea undress (fol. 18r) and Teuthras on his deathbed (fol. 97v), The Trojan War (ÖNB 2773), c. 1445-1450
Detail with ewer and basin in The Death of Mary in an altarpiece from Klagenfurt, c. 1445-1455
Brass ewers with a pedestal foot and zoomorphic handle and spout, made in Flanders in the 15th century - V&A 539-1869 and 540-1869)
A ewer made in Nuremburg c. 1450

Euer when he clepithe, wayte redy & entende, basoun and ewere, & on your shuldur a towelle.

John Russell's Book of Nurture, c. 1460-1475

The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 19081, fol. 202), middle of the 15th century
The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 1312, fol. 45v), middle of the 15th century
Detail from Madonna with the Child from Klosterneuburg, c. 1455-1465
Pompey insults Plautius Hypsaeus (fol. 458v) and Massinissa guarded by his dogs (fol. 483v), Facta et dicta memorabilia (BNF Fr. 289), second half of the 15th century
The marriage of Urien of Poitou and Hermine, Melusine (BNF Fr. 24383, fol. 14), second half of the 15th century
The Circumcision of Christ by Friedrich Herlin, 1466
A maiolica ewer in a detail from Adoration of the Magi by an artist in the circle of Frueauf, c. 1475-1485
Alexander receives gifts, History of Alexander the Great (BNF Fr. 257, fol. 194v), fourth quarter of the 15th century
Detail from The Adoration of the Magi, c. 1480-1490
Detail from Christ before Pilate in an altarpiece at Fridolfing, c. 1485-1495
Bronze ewer made in Hungary in the late 15th century
Brass ewer made in the Netherlands, Germany, and/or Syria, late 15th century
Brass ewer with silver and copper inlay, made in Egypt in 1496
A brass ewer made in Germany or the Netherlands in the 15th-16th centuries
Ewer in lapis-blue glass with enamel, made in Venice c. 1480
Glass ewer with gold leaf and enamel decoration, late 15th or early 16th century Murano
Glass ewer, enamel and gilt, made in Venice c. 1500
Job on the dungheap, Hours of Henry VIII (Morgan MS H.8, fol. 127v), c. 1500
Brass ewer with a lion spout, made in the Netherlands c. 1500
An English pewter spouted flagon, c. 1500
Pewter ewer, made c. 1500
Detail from Christ before Pilate by Jörg Breu the Elder, c. 1500-1502
Silver-gilt ewer with enamelled Wild Man finial and another, made in Nuremburg c. 1500

Venetian Chalcedony Ewers

Chalcedony ewer made in Venice c. 1450
Ewer, Venice, c. 1500
Chalcedony ewer, made in Venice c. 1500-1525

The fabrication of glass objects, The book of simple medicines (BNF Fr. 12322, fol. 191), c. 1520-1530
Porcelain ewer with the heraldry of the Portuguese family of Peixoto, made in Jingdezhen, China, c. 1522-1566
Silver ewer made in Toledo or Cuenca c. 1530

Saint-Porchaire Ewers

Saint-Porchaire ewer, made in France c. 1530-1550
Ewer , Saint-Porchaire, c. 1540-1567

Engraved brass ewer, made in Venice in the early 16th century
Brass ewer, engraved and damascened with silver, made in Venice or Cairo, 1450-1550
Copper ewer made in Venice c. 1530
Copper ewer made in Venice in the 16th century
Gilt brass ewer made in Venice c. 1540
Silver-gilt ewer with enamelled plaques, made in Istanbul c. 1530-1550
Mold-blown glass ewer with applied blue decoration, made in 16th century northern Spain or southern France
Ewer with Tughra-illuminator style decoration, Iznik, Turkey, c. 1525-1540
Bronze ewer found in the Highlands of Scotland, 16th century
Bronze ewer found at Loanhead, 16th century
Ewer made in 16th century France
Silver-gilt ewer and basin made in mid-16th century Antwerp
Ewer and basin of Charles V, 1558-1559
Ewer by Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, c. 1559
Crystal and silver-gilt ewer with the heraldry of John Erskine, Earl of Mar, made by James Cockie, c. 1565-1567
Silver-gilt ewer and basin, made in Venice c. 1580
Ewer made of Wanli-period Chinese porcelain (c. 1573-1620) with English silver-gilt mounts (c. 1585)
Gilt silver ewer, made in 16th century Spain
Silver ewer made in 16th century Spain
Parcel-gilt silver ewer with basin, made in Spain c. 1580-1599
Leaded-glass ewer made in 16th century England
Ewer with a man holding a banner, France, second half of the 16th century (also here and here)
The basin and ewer of Temperance made by François Briot, second half of the 16th century
Lead-glazed earthenware ewers made by Bernard Palissy, second half of the 16th century - V&A 7178-1860 and C.2306-1910
Copper ewer, made in Italy in the late 16th century
Soft-paste porcelain ewer manufactured in the Medici workshops c. 1575-1587
Ewer with representations of the seasons and regions of the world by Caspar Enderlein, c. 1580-1600
Parcel-gilt silver ewer and basin made by Abraham Pflegler I in 1583
Silver-gilt ewer made by Agostino dei Musi, c. 1583-1584
Brass ewer cast in the form of a mermaid, made in Flanders in the late 16th century
Fritware ewer, made in Iznik c. 1590-1600
Copper ewer, c. 1591-1610
Iznik ewer (second half of the 16th century) with English silver-gilt mounts (c. 1597-1598)
Silver-gilt ewer with the Triumph of Julius Caesar or the Triumph of Scipio Africanus made in Rome c. 1600
Silver-gilt ewer with serpents for the handle and spout, made in London c. 1604-1605