A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE GEORGE II BRONZE MORTAR

A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE GEORGE II BRONZE MORTAR

BY THE ASHTON FOUNDRY, WIGAN, LANCASHIRE, DATED '1738'
inscribed above the waist in a broad band ‘William Oddie, 1738’, the words spaced by a small heart, and the foundry mark of a bell above initials (?), with four cords above and two below

28.5cm high, 34cm diameter

Provenance

Sold Christie's, South Kensington, London, 7th November 2006, lot 216.

Christopher Bangs Private Collection.

Catalogue Note

William Oddie is almost certainly the owner, and not the maker, of this mortar.
A William Oddie apothecary, died in Clitheroe, Lancashire in 1764. This mortar has several common features, including the small heart motif, thin cords and style of the numerals, comparable to mortars made by Ralph Ashton (fl.1703-1728). See M. Finlay, English Decorated bronze Mortars & their Makers', p. 55-57.