A documented James I leaded bronze twin-handled mortar, attributed to Suffolk, circa 1605
REF: 2878
The body cast to one side with a vesica-shaped bishop's seal of a saint, between the initials 'M' and 'A', a foundry mark of four crossed lines forming an eight-pointed star beside the M, the other side cast with the same seal between a cross and the initials 'M.A', all between two slender ribs, with a pair of angular lug handles.
This mortar is illustrated three times in Michael Finlay, English Decorated Bronze Mortars & Their Makers (2010), once on the front cover, again in Colour Plate 1, and lastly on p. 132, fig. 256.
The four crossed lines, forming an eight-pointed asterix-like mark, are possibly that of a founder. Finlay attributes the maker to Suffolk, and possibly to the Suffolk maker Thomas Cheese (fl.1603-1635), on the basis of its similarity to other mortars known to have been part of his output. A 17th century bronze cauldron with the same mark was found near Grantham in Lincolnshire.
Provenance: The private collections of Michael Finlay and Danny Robinson
- Height 12 cm / 4 3⁄4"
- Diameter 15.5 cm / 6 "
- Weight 4.185 kg
Category
, once on the front cover, again in Colour Plate 1, and lastly on p. 132, fig. 256. The four crossed lines, forming an eight-pointed asterix-like mark, are possibly that of a founder. Finlay attributes the maker to Suffolk, and possibly to the Suffolk maker Thomas Cheese (fl.1603-1635), on the basis of its similarity to other mortars known to have been part of his output. A 17th century bronze cauldron with the same mark was found near Grantham in Lincolnshire.Provenance: The private collections of Michael Finlay and Danny Robinson){kind=link}