File:Medieval ewer spout (side views) (FindID 177852).jpg

English: A complete cast copper alloy zoomorphic decorative pouring spout or laver, probably from an ewer and dating to the 15th century AD (length: 69mm; width: 49.5mm; thickness: 16.5mm; weight: 68.8g).

This artefact has an integrally cast angular dog’s head terminal with a tubular spout extending out from the dog’s open sub lozenge-shaped mouth (internal diameter of spout: 5.5mm). The dog’s head has strongly pronounced ridges/ protrusions for the facial features, including rectangular ears to either side of the head and heavy ridged eyebrows. There is an additional ridge running down the centre of the dog’s forehead between the ears.The eyes are not illustrated. The spout has a short narrower neck before curving downwards to the hollow opening at the back.

The back of the artefact, which would have been attached to the vessel, is undecorated and curved to a pointed terminal, with a slanted indentation continuing to a hollow circular opening at the top, which then leads to the front of the spout. The artefact is in a worn but fair condition with a dark green patina.

Similar examples can be seen recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (record numbers WMID-FFD0E2, WMID-BE4B04, WMID-AE1396 & WMID-9748E6) and are illustrated in Mill’s ‘Medieval Artefacts’, 1999, page 110, ref NM 292, where they are described as being from a laver or priest’s washing bowl.

A ewer with a similar spout is also shown in J.M. Lewis's paper 'Bronze Aquamaniles and Ewers' (1987: Finds Research Group Datasheet 7, pp 4-5 fig 8a). This example is from a later pedestal-base ewer discovered in the moat at Cardiff Castle and dated to the 15th century.