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Morta with putti frieze around the base

Mortar
1507 (made)
Artist/Maker
Francesco, Guidoccio Di (Da Fabriano) (maker)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This mortar is related to those produced in the workshop of Guidoccio di Francesco da Fabriano in the 1460s, and was probably produced by his successors in the workshop, or at another workshop in the city. Here the arches are supported by a similar plant to that which appears between the arcading on earlier examples. This gothic-style arcading was already out of date at that time, and its appearance in 1507, when this mortar was made, highlights the traditional approach to the decoration of these objects.


Object details

Category
Metalwork
Object type
Mortar
TitleMorta with putti frieze around the base
Materials and techniques
Leaded bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Bronze Italian 1507
Physical description
A cylindrical mortar with recessed rim and a single semi-circular handle with reeding an cable pattern. The projecting rim bearing the legend ANO D MCCCCCVII...(the remained illegible). On the body, five crocketed, trefoil ogee arches springing from a plant. A recessed base with a frieze of cavorting, naked putti. The putti frieze is applied as eight identical panels of three putti, with one additional putto filling the gap in the frieze below the handle. Unlike the other related mortars, the arcading here does not frame the handle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11cm
  • Rim diameter: 14.4cm
  • Base diameter: 9.5cm
  • Width: 14.5cm
  • Weight: 3431.4g
Credit line
Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A.
Object history
Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A.
Subjects depicted
Putti
Arches
Plant
Summary
This mortar is related to those produced in the workshop of Guidoccio di Francesco da Fabriano in the 1460s, and was probably produced by his successors in the workshop, or at another workshop in the city. Here the arches are supported by a similar plant to that which appears between the arcading on earlier examples. This gothic-style arcading was already out of date at that time, and its appearance in 1507, when this mortar was made, highlights the traditional approach to the decoration of these objects.
Bibliographic reference
Motture, Peta. Bells & Mortars. Catalogue of Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2001, p.76, cat. no. 6.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
M.29-1938

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312042/morta-with-putti-frieze-around-mortar-francesco-guidoccio-di/
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