aquamanile

thumb|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. Most surviving examples are in metal, typically copper alloys (brass or bronze), as pottery versions have rarely survived. thumb|An 11–12th century Islamic art|Islamic aquamanile from [[Iran, later used in liturgy by Medieval Spanish Christians]]