An unusually decorated and initialled leaded bronze mortar, English, circa 1650
An unusually decorated and initialled leaded bronze mortar, English, circa 1650
2881
Having a straight-sided flared rim, the body decorated with the initials 'IP', both letters with bifurcated terminals, two espalier-like plant forms and a third of ladder-like from, all between a pair of moulded ribs, straight-sided spreading foot.
The espalier-like pas receivedlant forms on this mortar are recorded in Michael Finlay, English Decorated Bronze Mortars and their Makers (2010), p. 159, but on earlier mortars of different forms. Their founders are as yet unidentified. The shape of this mortar bears most similarities with one made by Thomas Purdue in Somerset, which has the same straight-sided edge to the rim and foot, and similar horizontal ribs forming a border for the decorated central band (see ibid, p. 114, fig. 214).
Provenance: Private English Pharmacist's Collection
Dimensions:
, p. 159, but on earlier mortars of different forms. Their founders are as yet unidentified. The shape of this mortar bears most similarities with one made by Thomas Purdue in Somerset, which has the same straight-sided edge to the rim and foot, and similar horizontal ribs forming a border for the decorated central band (see ibid, p. 114, fig. 214).Provenance: Private English Pharmacist's Collection){kind=link}