The use of pairs of flat bowls like these gave them the name gemellion, derived from the Latin gemellio (twin). In the Middle Ages, they were used for both secular and liturgical purposes, primarily for washing hands. One of the bowls had a small spout from which the water was poured, while the other collected it. From the thirteenth century onward, decorative enamel bowls were made in Limoges for this purpose, often embellished with scenes of knights and coats of arms.

This Limousin copper bowl with flat sides has a spout in the shape of a stylized animal head with a wide-open mouth and glass bead eyes. Its counterpart has been lost. The interior surface of the bowl is enameled using the sunk enamel technique. A figurative medallion adorns the convex centre of the base. Two copper-embossed figures stand out against dark blue enameled sections with multicolored rosettes and circles. The figure of a musician with a medieval stringed instrument and a figure doing a handstand allow for various interpretations. The scene could depict a dance as part of courtly entertainment or legendary figures from Greek mythology, such as Orpheus with Eurydice returning to Tartarus. A copper-embossed leaf frieze with a blue enamel border frames the scene. This is followed by a frieze of stylized vine ornaments (volute vines) alternating with six blue enamel medallions. On each medallion sits a copper-embossed angel figure on stylized clouds. This frieze also ends with a narrow blue enamel border. The flanged rim (Bördelung) of the wall is decorated with a soldered-on wave ornament, which still shows remnants of old enamel.