SHEEP AQUAMANILE

The present aquamanile in the form of a sheep is an extremely rare type of aquamanile and does not appear to be known in any other example in the literature on the subject. With its relatively short legs and simplified, rounded forms, it relates most closely to several horse aquamaniles that have been called North German or Scandinavian by Falke and Meyer (loc. cit.). However, among these, the one that bears the greatest similarity is an example which shares with the present lot the cylindrical chimney-like spout on the back for pouring water into (op. cit., fig. 499). The engraved indications of clumps of wool at the top of each leg and the elegantly rendered features of the head make this a deceptively sophisticated object.

For more general information on aquamaniles, please see the introduction to this section.

This lot comes with Metallography and Analysis report #1549 by Dr. Peter Northover.