Aquamanile

Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

In modern usage, an aquamanile (plural aquamanilia or simply aquamaniles) is a ewer or jug-type vessel in the form of one or more animal or human figures. It usually contained water for the washing of hands (aqua + manos) over a basin, which was part of both upper-class meals and the Christian Eucharist. Historically (since the 6th century) the term was used for a basin used for priest's ablutions. The water was supplied by a subdeacon, and aquamanile was a symbol of subdeaconate. The term was later transferred onto secular ewers.[1] Most surviving examples are in metal, typically copper alloys (brass or bronze), as pottery versions have rarely survived.

An 11–12th century Islamic aquamanile from Iran, later used in liturgy by Medieval Spanish Christians