A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche - image-1
A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche - image-2
A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche - image-1A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche - image-2

Lot 1106 Dα

A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche

Auction 1131 - overview Cologne
17.05.2019, 17:00 - Highly Important Mortars from the Schwarzach Collection
Estimate: 2.000 € - 3.000 €
Result: 1.860 € (incl. premium)
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A dated Italian mortar with a coat-of-arms and an eagle cartouche

Copper coloured cast bronze with fine reddish brown patina. Slightly bell-shaped squat vessel with protruding moulded base and tall moulded rim. Both sides cast with heraldic shields with an eagle flanked by the intitials "PE" and "AN". The broad rim inscribed "PETRVS ANTONIVS BEXVTIVS FE IT MDXXID". H 17, D 20.5 cm. Weight 7.9 kg.
Northern Italy, attributed to Venice, 1521.

This mortar could have been made for the kitchens of the Contarini family in Venice. The Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo was built and furnished in the early 16th century, which corresponds with the date of this mortar's production.

Provenance

According to tradition, this mortar was formerly in the possession of the Princes of Metternich.