VESSEL

A late medieval (c.1400-1550) cast copper-alloy integral vessel mount (handle lug) in the form of three-dimensional female head from a late medieval hanging laver (bowl to hold water).

The face is sub rectangular in section, being flat on the reverse (which faces the inside of the vessel). It is moulded in low relief. The hair is moulded ridges on the top and sides of the head, down to chin level. The nose is square and flat. Below is a indented line for the mouth and The eyes are large detailed features, but not even. They are formed of four horizontal grooves, square next to the nose and tapering to a point at the other side. The face has no chin and tapers into a thick neck, and then flares again into the upper part of the chest. The depiction ends here, and has a rounded base. The back continues further and would have joined to the wall of the vessel, but there is now a worn break with transverse groove cur across it. These may be later and could suggest reuse of the mount. On the reverse, the back of the head has a deep circular recess in it. This is where the end of the handle would have articulated with the lug. The back of the neck is rough, and the back of the shoulders are hollow with filemarks visible. The metal has a dark green patina.

Compare WILT-F50A61, HAMP-D38182, BH-6D9171 and LIN-5224B2 as well as ESS-A02895 and SF-9A1617 among others. See a near-complete example in the British Museum, accession number 1956,0702.1.

These items are generally dated to the fifteenth century.