A complete cast copper alloy decorative pouring sprout or laver, probably from an ewer and dating to the 15th century AD (length: 73.1mm; width: 50.7mm; thickness: 20.2mm; weight: 88.29g). This artefact has an integrally cast dog's head terminal with a tubular spout extending out from the dog's open mouth (internal diameter: 6.1mm). Although worn and corroded, the dog's head with strongly incised lines/ protrusions including rectangular ears to either side of the head and heavy ridged eyebrows. Down the centre of the face and between the ears, there is a single ridge, which then continues along the centre of the neck to the back of the spout. The back of the artefact, which would have been attached to the vessel, is undecorated and curved with a slanted indentation continuing to a circular opening at the top, which then leads to the front of the spout. The artefact is in a worn and corroded condition with a patchy green patina.<br><br>
A similar example is illustrated in Mill's 'Medieval Artefacts', 1999, page 110, ref NM 292, and is described as being from a laver or priest's washing bowl.
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Birmingham Museums Trust, Caroline Johnson, 2005-06-28 14:56:19</div>
CC BY-SA 4.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://finds.org.uk/database/ajax/download/id/67885">https://finds.org.uk/database/ajax/download/id/67885</a><br>Catalog: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://finds.org.uk/database/images/image/id/67885/recordtype/artefacts">https://finds.org.uk/database/images/image/id/67885/recordtype/artefacts</a> <bdo lang="en" dir="ltr" title="archived on 8 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190108025531/https%3A//finds.org.uk/database/images/image/id/67885/recordtype/artefacts">archive copy</a></bdo><br>Artefact: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/100067">https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/100067</a>