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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, either at home or during the Mass. Water was poured from the spouted bowl over the hands and was caught in the second bowl placed below. This gemellion is adorned with peacocks, a symbol of beauty, paradise, and immortality in the Middle Ages. It is said to have been found in the Seine River and is corroded from its long submersion.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
10552
label
Gemellion with Peacocks
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
10552
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Gemellion with Peacocks
description
A gemellion (from the Latin "geminus," meaning "twin") is one of a pair of basins used to wash hands, either at home or during the Mass. Water was poured from the spouted bowl over the hands and was caught in the second bowl placed below. This gemellion is adorned with peacocks, a symbol of beauty, paradise, and immortality in the Middle Ages. It is said to have been found in the Seine River and is corroded from its long submersion.
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
bowls (vessels)
liturgical plates
liturgical objects
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) (diam.)
Source extras
cul
French
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
20e6ef169f8c2e93