Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Aquamanile in the Form of a Griffin

ca. 1425–50
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 953
This magnificent aquamanile in the form of a griffin with (separately cast) outstretched wings can be grouped stylistically with the unicorn (64.101.1493) and a few other examples that were probably produced by the same Nuremberg workshop in the second quarter of the fifteenth century. The aquamanile was filled through a hole between the ears, and water was poured from the spigot in the chest, likely a rare surviving original element.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Aquamanile in the Form of a Griffin
  • Date: ca. 1425–50
  • Culture: German, Nuremberg
  • Medium: Bronze; Ternary copper alloy with a very high content of zinc (approx. 74%
    copper, approx. 22% zinc, approx. 2% lead) with natural patina, hollow cast.
  • Dimensions: H. 31.9 cm, w. 12 cm (chest without wings), l. 32.3 cm
    (including spout), wt. 3588 g and 488 g (wings).
  • Classification: Metalwork-Bronze
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1413
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
Hauberk of Mail, Iron, copper alloy (latten), bronze, German, Nuremberg
Hauberk of Mail
German, Nuremberg
15th century
Aquamanile in the Form of Samson and the Lion, Bronze; quaternary copper alloy (approx. 78% copper, approx. 10% zinc, approx. 6% tin, approx. 5% lead) with natural patina. Remnants of the iron armature are in the lion’s legs and the figure of Samson., Northern European (?), possibly German

Aquamanile in the Form of Samson and the Lion

Northern European (?), possibly German
ca. 1380–1400
The Annunciation, Hans Memling Netherlandish, Oil on panel, transferred to canvas
The Annunciation
Hans Memling
1480–89
Cantle Plate, Steel, gold, German, Augsburg or Nuremberg
Cantle Plate
German, Augsburg or Nuremberg
ca. 1565–75
Aquamanile in the Form of a Knight on Horseback, Bronze; Quaternary copper alloy with a high content of zinc (approx. 73% copper, approx. 15% zinc, approx. 7% lead, approx. 3% tin) with natural patina, hollow cast; remnants of the clay core<br/>and iron armature in the legs, German, Lower Saxony (?)

Aquamanile in the Form of a Knight on Horseback

German, Lower Saxony (?)
ca. 1350

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.