A magnificent signed Löffler mortar
Golden brown cast bronze with chocolate brown patina and remains of varnish. Slightly tapering form with pronounced lower section, moulded stepped base and flared moulded rim. The lower section cast with a frieze of large acanthus leaves, above this several mouldings and two banderoles inscribed "PETER LAMINGER VON DEM HAILIGEN KRAIZ" and "GOS MICH MCCCCC LAVDAMVS DEVS". Cast beneath the rim with the eagle of Tyrol, a medallion with a spoonbill, and a banderole with a further eagle. With tall scroll form dolphin handles. H 21.4, D 20.6 cm. Weight 9.9 kg.
Innsbruck, Peter Löffler (called Laminger), 1500.
The form of this mortar is based on Southern Italian models of the late 15th century. The elongated bell-shaped form with prominent foliate frieze and tall scroll handles is reminiscent of a mortar in the Berlin Museum of Decorative Arts attributed to Padua.
Peter Löffler (circa 1468 - circa 1530), called Laminger or Laiminger, created many church bells as well as cannon and rifles for the army of Emperor Maximilian I. He also cast the first large bronze statue placed in the Innsbruck Hofkirche. His son and “part caster” Gregor continued his father's work.
Provenance
Private collection, Bremen.
Literature
Illus. in: Jantzen, Bronzemörser, in: Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums, Nuremberg 1968, p. 27 - 34, p. 28, illus. 3.
Cf. also: Launert, Der Mörser, Munich 1990, illus. 225 f.