Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles

16th century

Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
Renaissance bronze apothecary mortar with Gryphon head handles
450.00 VAT margin scheme
Article code25-3502
A finely cast small bronze mortar, used for grinding herbs, minerals and other ingredients for the preparation of early medicines and remedies. The vessel has a gently flaring body decorated with a series of vertical ribs, and is fitted with two opposing handles formed as gryphon heads.A particularly unusual example because of its rare small size.

Maximum diameter: ± 70,6 mm
Height: ± 43,4 mm
Weight: ± 274,5 g
1
Mortars of this type were cast in bronze, often by founders working in the same tradition as bell makers, and sometimes in bell foundries themselves. Their bell-metal composition and cast form give them the clear, resonant tone for which such mortars are well known, while details were refined by hand after casting.

Features and Specifications

Period Post-Medieval
Category Artefacts
Material Bronze
Country Europe