Mortar
1515 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This leaded bronze mortar is made by Giuliano Mariotto de' Navi (active ca. 1480-1515), in Florence in 1515.
The letters of the inscription of this mortar are individually moulded with the exception of the last two letters of the date. The form and condition of the mortar indicate its probable use. The reddish colour in the bowl points to copper enrichment at the surface (or some form of contamination), and as there is no evidence that the mortar has been heated externally, this suggests that the contents (possibly a gum or resin) caused this effect. There are several other mortars apparently from the same foundry, varying in date from 1480 to 1515, and such a survival rate is rare. None of them is of fine quality. Although at first considered to be a possible forgery, the inscription and evidence of wear cannot be dismissed, and the mortar must, therefore, be accepted as a rare survival of the early 16th century.
This mortar is virtually identical with another mortar in the museum's collection, also executed by de' Navi (mus.no. M.685-1910). Both have a lip for pouring, a rare if not exceptional case for bronze mortars.
The letters of the inscription of this mortar are individually moulded with the exception of the last two letters of the date. The form and condition of the mortar indicate its probable use. The reddish colour in the bowl points to copper enrichment at the surface (or some form of contamination), and as there is no evidence that the mortar has been heated externally, this suggests that the contents (possibly a gum or resin) caused this effect. There are several other mortars apparently from the same foundry, varying in date from 1480 to 1515, and such a survival rate is rare. None of them is of fine quality. Although at first considered to be a possible forgery, the inscription and evidence of wear cannot be dismissed, and the mortar must, therefore, be accepted as a rare survival of the early 16th century.
This mortar is virtually identical with another mortar in the museum's collection, also executed by de' Navi (mus.no. M.685-1910). Both have a lip for pouring, a rare if not exceptional case for bronze mortars.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Leaded bronze |
| Brief description | Mortar, leaded bronze, by Giuliano Mariotto de' Navi, Italy (Florence), dated 1515 |
| Physical description | This concial mortar has two cabled scroll handles and a projecting rim with recessed lip. On the rim is a spout with acanthus decoration and an inscribed legend. Below is a band of 18 classical female heads. On the body, beneath a fillet moulding are 10 acanthus leaves. Moulded foot. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | ' + OPVS . IVLIANI . MARIOCTI . FLORENTINI . MCCCCCXV'.
|
| Object history | Bought, £3 in 1861. |
| Historical context | The letters are individually moulded with the exception of the last two letters of the date. The form and condition indicate its probable use. The reddish colour in the bowl points to copper enrichment at the surface (or some form of contamination), and as there is no evidence that the mortar has been heated externally, this suggests that the contents (possibly a gum or resin) caused this effect. There are several other mortars apparently from the same foundry, varying in date from 1480 to 1515, and this survival rate is rare. None of them is of fine quality. Although at first considered to be a possible forgery, the inscription and evidence of wear cannot be dismissed, and the mortar must, therefore, be accepted as a rare survival of the early 16th century. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This leaded bronze mortar is made by Giuliano Mariotto de' Navi (active ca. 1480-1515), in Florence in 1515. The letters of the inscription of this mortar are individually moulded with the exception of the last two letters of the date. The form and condition of the mortar indicate its probable use. The reddish colour in the bowl points to copper enrichment at the surface (or some form of contamination), and as there is no evidence that the mortar has been heated externally, this suggests that the contents (possibly a gum or resin) caused this effect. There are several other mortars apparently from the same foundry, varying in date from 1480 to 1515, and such a survival rate is rare. None of them is of fine quality. Although at first considered to be a possible forgery, the inscription and evidence of wear cannot be dismissed, and the mortar must, therefore, be accepted as a rare survival of the early 16th century. This mortar is virtually identical with another mortar in the museum's collection, also executed by de' Navi (mus.no. M.685-1910). Both have a lip for pouring, a rare if not exceptional case for bronze mortars. |
| Associated object | M.685-1910 (Version) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7848-1861 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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