The Butler Hoard - 1st July 2025
Lot 15
PRESENTLY THE EARLIEST RECORDED WHITECHAPEL FOUNDRY MORTAR, LONDON: AN ELIZABETH I BRONZE MORTAR
Estimate £1,000 - £1,500
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Description
PRESENTLY THE EARLIEST RECORDED WHITECHAPEL FOUNDRY MORTAR, LONDON: AN ELIZABETH I BRONZE MORTAR
ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT MOT (FL.1574-1606)
the form reminiscent of Flemish mortars of the same period, with Renaissance-style foliate arabesque waist decoration, the rim cast with the inscription: 'I SPEKE TO THE NO EVELE'
10.8cm high, 14.2cm diameter
Provenance
Formerly in the John Fardon Collection.
Catalogue Note
One previously recorded mortar by Mot (whereabouts unknown) inscribed round the rim 'ROBERTVSMOT ME FECIT 1590' was originally in the collection of E. Saville-Peck, p. 65. The Whitechapel Foundry was established by 1567 by an unidentified precursor of Robert Mot.
Literature
Illustrated and discussed in Michael Finlay, 'English Decorated Bronze Mortars', p. 65, no. 84.