A gemellion

Derived from the Latin gemellus, meaning 'twin', gemellions are shallow bowls that were typically produced in pairs, used for the washing of hands in both domestic and liturgical settings in 13th-century France. One basin would often be fitted with a spout, from which water was poured into the second basin placed beneath. Produced in Limoges, they were fashioned in copper and enriched with vibrant champlevé enamel often depicting heraldic, chivalric, or fantastical scenes.