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Source Description
A gemellion (from the Latin geminus, meaning twin) is one of a pair of basins used to wash hands, both at home and during mass. Water was poured from the spouted bowl over the hands and was caught in the second bowl placed as a basin below. Many gemellions made in the enamel manufacturing center of Limoges were decorated with secular-themed designs. This gemellion is adorned with peacocks, a symbol of beauty, paradise, and immortality in the Middle Ages.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
5118
label
Gemellion (Liturgical Plate) with Peacocks
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
5118
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Gemellion (Liturgical Plate) with Peacocks
description
A gemellion (from the Latin geminus, meaning twin) is one of a pair of basins used to wash hands, both at home and during mass. Water was poured from the spouted bowl over the hands and was caught in the second bowl placed as a basin below. Many gemellions made in the enamel manufacturing center of Limoges were decorated with secular-themed designs. This gemellion is adorned with peacocks, a symbol of beauty, paradise, and immortality in the Middle Ages.
provenance
[Found in the Seine, Paris]; Henri Daguerre, Paris, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1927, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
13th century (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Enamels
gemellion
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) (diam.)
Source extras
cul
Northern European
style
Gothic
med
champlevé enamel on copper
creator_ids
6229
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b4d8e7cecfc8a8e0