ticketsMember | Make a donation

Aquamanile in the Form of a Rooster

13th century
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 10
The rooster’s majestic tail feathers splay in rhythmic arcs as he crows, full-throated. The artist who modeled the bird boldly balanced the body on its tiny talons.

This elaborate water vessel was intended for handwashing. A specialty of metalworkers in German-speaking lands for centuries—from the twelfth to the fifteenth—they are called aquamanilia, from the Latin words for water (aqua) and hand (manus).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Aquamanile in the Form of a Rooster
  • Date: 13th century
  • Geography: Made in Lower Saxony, Germany
  • Culture: German
  • Medium: Copper alloy
  • Dimensions: 9 15/16 x 4 1/8 x 9 3/4 in. (25.2 x 10.5 x 24.7 cm)
    Thickness: 11/16-15/16 in. (0.18-0.24 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Copper alloy
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1989
  • Object Number: 1989.292
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Aquamanile in the Form of a Mounted Knight, Copper alloy, German
Aquamanile in the Form of a Mounted Knight
German
ca. 1250
Appliqué Figure of the Apostle James, Copper alloy, cast and gilt, North German
Appliqué Figure of the Apostle James
North German
ca. 1350
Appliqué Figure of the Apostle Philip, Copper alloy, cast and gilt, North German
Appliqué Figure of the Apostle Philip
North German
ca. 1350
Aquamanile in the Form of a Dragon, Copper alloy, North German
Aquamanile in the Form of a Dragon
North German
ca. 1200
Aquamanile in the Form of a Falconer on Horseback, Copper alloy, North German
Aquamanile in the Form of a Falconer on Horseback
North German
13th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 5

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 complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.