A Portuguese faience aquamanile, Lisbon, c. 1625. © Henry Manners 

One of the most extraordinary wares to have been produced in ceramic. Modelled as a chimera with the head of a woman. 

According to São Roque, about 20 aquamanile are known, in different models some have additional yellow polychrome but most are blue and white. As far as we know, there is one other like this one, the more well known version being the same as this but with the head of a donkey.

These aquamanile were used for the ritual of washing hands before a banquet. The idea of these zoomorphic pouring vessels was not new in the 17th century. The idea seems to have originated in Persia in the 8th century and became popular across Europe in the Middle Ages.

At this point in time, the blue and white faience of Portugal was the finest tin-glazed earthenware being produced in Europe, only being superseded by Delft in the second half of the century.

Repost from Henry Manners