An important North Italian mortar
Cast bronze with golden brown patina. Cylindrical form with moulded base, slightly rounded lower section, and broad protruding rim. The handles formed as short cylindrical knobs. Decorated with a band of fleur-de-lys above stylised tendrils and a family coat of arms flanked by an inscription in Gothic minuscule: "l a bra". The broad rim decorated with festoons. H 18.5, D 24 cm. Weight 14.5 cm.
Venice, attributed to the Alberghetti workshop, mid-16th/early 17th century.
The Alberghetti have been known at the latest since the end of the 15th century thanks to a gunsmith who can be traced back to Ferrara and Venice. Giovanni, Alfonso and Gian Francesco Alberghetti, among others, were also active as bronze casters in Venice in the 16th and early 17th century. A few signed casts can be attributed to them today, including a mortar with similar decoration to the present work, which is attributed to Giovanni Alberghetti and today housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (inv. no. 345-1889). The work uses similar applied motifs to this mortar. Typical of the family and their workshop are depictions of animals and lush garlands of laurel or vegetation. However, the fact that this example includes a central coat of arms and the unusual fleur-de-lys border around the rim indicates that these details were requested by the client.
Literature
Cf. Motture, Bells & Mortars, Catalogue of Italian Bronzes in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2001, cat. 22.