A walker has discovered a historic hand washing vessel near Großdemsin.
The honest finder gave the bronze vessel in the shape of a horse to the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archeology Saxony-Anhalt.
Halle / Großdemsin - An 800 year old bronze hand washing vessel in the shape of a horse was discovered by a walker near Großdemsin (district of Jerichower Land).
"This is a wonderful find, especially now on the birthday of the state monument protection law, which is 30 years old today," said state archaeologist Harald Meller on Thursday.
"We thank the honest finder for enriching the permanent exhibition."
The so-called "Aquamanile" is therefore an extremely rare item and one of the earliest known watering vessels of its kind in Germany.
The vessel was a luxury object in the high Middle Ages and was used to pour water around between 1150 and 1250.
The walker discovered the piece in July 2021 in the swampy valley of a stream, as it was called.
The hand-washing vessel protruded from the ground of a freshly mown meadow.
The honest finder gave the historical piece to the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments.
The archaic-looking horse figure of about 20 centimeters in length and about 23 centimeters in height has an elongated, tubular body with sweeping curves on the buttocks and chest as well as a steeply erect neck and head.
On the forehead there is a hinge with a hinged lid for the sprue.
The spout is at the mouth.
A simple, curved round rod serves as a handle.
The stylized execution cannot be ascribed to any particular workshop.
In Magdeburg there was an early center for sophisticated non-ferrous metal casting.
But in the history of art, “casting horses” with similar characteristics are usually mentioned as having originated in Hungary under the influence of Islamic models.
These pieces were used, for example, for liturgical hand washing during church services.
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From the figural vessel, water was poured over the hands, which was then caught in a basin underneath.
In addition, the vessels were used in aristocratic circles to clean their hands during a meal to demonstrate a luxurious, courtly lifestyle.
Due to its importance, the surprise find will be included in the already completed conception of the new rooms of the permanent exhibition of the State Museum of Prehistory.
From November 5, 2021, the vessel will be shown here together with other liturgical implements from medieval church services.
dpa
