Mortar
1734 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mortar of cast iron that is etched with personifications of gold, silver, iron and brass. These include a figure with a flaming face, torch and key (representing gold), a female figure with a starred shawl and torch (silver), Mars with the male symbol (iron), and a naked woman and child with an orb and a female symbol (brass).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast iron |
| Brief description | Mortar, cast iron, Germany, 1734 |
| Physical description | Mortar of cast iron that is etched with personifications of gold, silver, iron and brass. These include a figure with a flaming face, torch and key (representing gold), a female figure with a starred shawl and torch (silver), Mars with the male symbol (iron), and a naked woman and child with an orb and a female symbol (brass). |
| Gallery label | MORTAR, cast iron, Germany; dated 1734
The figures in the cartouches on the side represent the principal metals: a figure with a flaming face, torch and key - gold; a female figure with a starred shawl and torch - silver; Mars with the male symbol - iron; and a naked woman and child with an orb and a female symbol - brass. It has been suggested that this belonged to an alchemist (who tried to discover how to turn base metals into gold).
Museum No. M.144-1978(07/1994) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.144-1978 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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