ITALIAN, 1725

Details

A BRONZE MORTAR WITH IRON PESTLE
Italian, 1725
Inscribed around the upper rim 'FRANCISCVS. ANTONIVS. ANNOVAZZI. MEDIOLANENSIS. AROMATARIVS. CIVITATIS. VETVLAE. ANNO. IVBILEI. MDCCXXV.'; the body also decorated with a band of acanthus leaves, two handles in the form of putti, and two cartouches, one with a bust of a Moor, another with a coat of arms; with a simple iron pestle.
Blackish brown patina; minor dents; oxidization to the pestle.
14 5/8 in. (37.3 cm.) high, 19 in. (48.2 cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The inscription indicates the person for whom the mortar was made rather than the maker. Thus the commissioner was Francesco Antonio Annovazzi, a spice dealer and apothecary from Milan. Interestingly, the inscription also indicates that it was made in 1725, a Jubilee year, wherein all catholics were called to make a pilgrimage to Rome.

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