Mortar thumbnail 1
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Mortar

Mortar
1520-1560 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This modified bell-shaped mortar has handles in the form of S-shaped foliate scrolls. The mortar is decorated around the rim with acanthus, grotesque heads and two heraldic shields. The form and decoration of the mortar is closely related to four other examples, in collections in Milan, Paris, Washington and Edinburgh, a link which allows attribution to the same workshop.

Object details

Category
Tools & Equipment
Object type
Mortar
TitleMortar
Materials and techniques
Bronzed
Bronze
Brief description
Mortar decorated with foliate scrolls
Physical description
Mortar of a modified bell-shape with handles in the form of S-shaped foliate scrolls. Decorated around the rim with acanthus; on the body, foliate scrolls with suspended grotesque heads and two heralidic shields. The bowl is divided bu a torus moulding with a frieze of downward facing acanthus (above) and elongated acanthus (below). On the foot, downward facing acanthus.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13cm
  • Diameter: 14.5cm
  • Rim diameter: 14.5cm
  • Width: 17.7cm
  • Weight: 2923.5g
Object history
Bought from Michelangelo Guggenheim, Venice, in 1889 (with 335 to 354-1889) for £300.
Subjects depicted
Acanthus
Leaf Scrolls
Grotesques
Shield
Summary
This modified bell-shaped mortar has handles in the form of S-shaped foliate scrolls. The mortar is decorated around the rim with acanthus, grotesque heads and two heraldic shields. The form and decoration of the mortar is closely related to four other examples, in collections in Milan, Paris, Washington and Edinburgh, a link which allows attribution to the same workshop.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1889. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1890. pp. 36
  • Motture, Peta. Bells and Mortars. Catalogue of the Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2001. pp. 129-30, cat. no. 30
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
348-1889

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Record createdOctober 27, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O170547/mortar-mortar-unknown/
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