A rare Italian ribbed mortar - image-1

Lot 1103 Dα

A rare Italian ribbed mortar

Auction 1131 - overview Cologne
17.05.2019, 17:00 - Highly Important Mortars from the Schwarzach Collection
Estimate: 2.000 € - 3.000 €
Result: 3.224 € (incl. premium)
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A rare Italian ribbed mortar

Cast bronze with dark brown patina. Squat, slightly tapering form with flared rim. Cast with six twisted columns beneath Gothic capitals and the initials "S E". The caster's signature inscribed around the rim "CRESCENBENI ME FECIT". C-shaped handles with braided appliques. H 12.8, D 16 cm. Weight 3.9 kg. Including a corresponding pestle.
Attributed to Crescimbeni da Perugia, 15th C.

The existence and profession of the four brothers Angelo, Antonio, Ercolano, and Mariotto Crescimbeni can be securely attributed from the large bronze bell cast by them for the tower of Perugia town hall (Thieme / Becker, vol. 8, Munich 1992, p. 88). This and other bells can all be ascribed to the foundry. The form and décor of this mortar is rooted in the Italian Gothic tradition. A comparable mortar tentatively dated to 1440 with the signature of Crescimbeni da Perugia is today considered one of the oldest known mortars in Italy.

Literature

Cf. Motture, Bells & Mortars, Catalogue of Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2001, p. 38, no. 10 and 11 (two mortars of similar shape and décor, also ascribed to Perugia).