THE LONDON UNIDENTIFIED FOUNDRY, 17TH CENTURY

Details

An English bronze mortar
The London Unidentified Foundry, 17th century
The body cast three times with lions rampant
4 5/16in. (10.9cm.) diameter; 3 3/8in. (8.5cm.) high;
another English bronze mortar, the body cast four times with the Arms of the City of London, late 17th century -- 4 5/8in. (10.9cm.) diameter; 3 3/8in. (8.5cm.) high; and two associated bronze pestles -- 7¼in. (18.5cm.) long, respectively (4)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

A similar, possibly identical lion rampant stamp was used on a large mortar now in the kitchens at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire. It represents the arms of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 4th husband of Bess of Hardwick (married 1567). On the 1601 inventory of Hardwick Hall is ''In the boyling house: three brass panns, a brass kettle, a morter and pestle of brass...''. The present mortar is of somewhat later 17th century date.

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