Mortar

Unknown

16th century · Bell metal · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This modest object is an example of the utilitarian metalwork produced and used in massive numbers throughout the sixteenth century. An everyday version of the fantastic and virtuoso display mortars such as 2016.492 and 2017.11), the working mortar is made from bell metal: hard-wearing but considerably cheaper than bronze because of its higher tin content. All the same, it was decorated—cast from a mold lightly embellished with a simple, repeating crowned-dolphin motif.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th century

Medium

Bell metal

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941