Wrought Iron Washstand Foot, Italy Or Southern France, 15th Century

Beautiful and rare washbasin holder from the 15th century, very beautiful quality of metal representative of the know-how of the ironworkers of the Middle Ages. Indeed, this one presents a tour de force at the top of the base, composed of four twisted rods, forming an interlacing of knots. The 3 feet in the shape of lobes interrupted by a square knot, the meeting point between the terminal foot in claw and the lobe in the shape of a pyramid punctuated by a ball rod. The top part supporting the basin, composed of a hot assembly of three flat rods, two of them ending in a pyramidal point, the third in a socket receiving a wrought iron support, probably intended for the installation of a ewer or coquemar (see photo) washbasin holders were very widespread in the Middle Ages, and until the 17th century. Indeed, the custom was that we wash our hands before and after meals because we were used to eating with our fingers. A servant standing nearby poured the scented (or not) water from a ewer. The metal or wooden base supported a basin, here in hammered copper (not original). Good condition for the period. Max height: 132 cm Max width at ground: 71 cm Height at basin: 89 cm