File:IOW-D3CCC5 Medieval to Post-Medieval Ewer Spout (FindID 428131).jpg

English: An incomplete Medieval to post-Medieval cast copper-alloy ewer spout in the form of a dog's head (c. 1400-c. 1550). There is an old break just behind the head at the rear of the ears. The dog's head is tubular, generally oval in cross-section and curves in side profile. It holds a circular cross-section spout (about 5.7mm internal diameter and about 12.3mm external diameter) in its mouth from which liquid would have been poured. The dog's head is angular and robust. Its nose is short and upturned and the nostrils are formed by small indentations. The slanting engraved eyes and eyebrows slope rearwards. Its ears, measuring 12.5 x 7.7mm, are well set back and are pointed oval in plan. The top and underside of the head are carinated. On the top of the head, from the forehead to the break at the nape, there is a line of six short transverse engraved marks. An oblique line of punched or engraved marks slope downwards and rearwards from the top of the forehead. They follow the curve of the eyebrow and terminate near the base of the ear. The spout is in good condition and has a mid-green patina. The break is old. 40.1 x 22.1 x 21.3mm. Weight: 52.93g. A number of these types of spouts have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. For example, see finds: SF-CC25D3 and IOW-0E8386. Similar decorative spouts are illustrated in Bailey (1997, 57-59) but none of them show how they would have been attached to vessels. The spouts mainly date to the 15th century although their use may have continued into the 16th century. For a similar spout on a pedestal-base ewer from Cardiff Castle moat, dated to the 15th century, see: J.M. Lewis 1987 "Bronze Aquamaniles and Ewers" Finds Research Group Datasheet 7, 4-5, fig, 8a. Mills (1999, Medieval Artefacts, 110, ref: NM 292) publishes another similar spout, noting they are from priests' washing bowls (lavers), and dating them to the 15th century.