Pair of ewers; France, c. 1900.

Pair of ewers; France, c. 1900.
Brass and hard stones.
Measurements: 56 x 22 x 15 x 15 cm (x2).
Pair of ewers presenting the same design. This one is based on a gilded bronze structure that starts from a round stepped base with chiseled motifs of Renaissance inspiration such as the ovals and the vegetal elements. The second level of the base stands out for the openwork finish that gives way to a small shaft. The body of oval structure is made of hard stone with an external structure of bronze as a skeleton. The bronze details have an ornate finish with winged figures like cherubs alternating with plant motifs. In the neck area, more decorative elements are concentrated in a half-bulk, highlighting the presence of a bird and the handle with a honeycombed profile.
The cultural connections of the Byzantine Empire with Sassanid Persia and the Abbasid caliphate brought the ewer to the Mediterranean Christian world. The first European portable ewers date from the 11th century. In the Christian liturgy, jugs and basins were needed for the ritual of the lavabo, in which the officiating priest washes his hands before dressing, again before the consecration of the Eucharist and after mass.