Not currently on display at the V&A

Mortar

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

This mortar is made in ca. 1520-1560 in Italy, with the Veneto as the most precise place of origin that can be given at present. The form seems to have been developed from bell-shaped mortars.
The object came to the museum through the Salting bequest. George Salting (b. 1836; d. 1909) - an Australian, who settled in England - was a prolific collector in a number of areas, including Chinese and Japanese ceramics and European art. By 1874 his collection had outgrown his residence in St. James's Street, prompting him to lend items to the South Kensington Museum. After his death in 1909, the majority of this astonishing collection passed to the V&A, where it was shown in its own galleries.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Mortar, bronze, with foliage and dolphins, Italy (Veneto), ca. 1520-1560
Physical description
Vase-shaped mortar with two handles of scroll form. On the lip, an astragal, and below acanthus on a cyma recta moulding. On the body, vine-leaf scrolls emanating from dolphins, a shield superimposed at the centre of each side over a basket of fruit, tazza or vase. An ovolo below. On the foot, downward-facing acanthus. The handles obscure, on one side, a large acanthus and, on the other, finer foliage.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.8cm
  • Rim diameter: 14.7cm
  • Base diameter: 9.5cm
  • Width: 18.6cm
  • Weight: 3688.4g
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This mortar is made in ca. 1520-1560 in Italy, with the Veneto as the most precise place of origin that can be given at present. The form seems to have been developed from bell-shaped mortars.
The object came to the museum through the Salting bequest. George Salting (b. 1836; d. 1909) - an Australian, who settled in England - was a prolific collector in a number of areas, including Chinese and Japanese ceramics and European art. By 1874 his collection had outgrown his residence in St. James's Street, prompting him to lend items to the South Kensington Museum. After his death in 1909, the majority of this astonishing collection passed to the V&A, where it was shown in its own galleries.
Bibliographic reference
Motture, Peta. Bells & Mortars. Catalogue of the Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2001, p. 128, cat. no. 29
Collection
Accession number
M.701-1910

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest