Bronze Mortar Attributed To The Master Of Venus Period 17th Century

Very beautiful bronze mortar with medal patina, frustoconical shape and flared rim, attributed to the ''Master of the Venus''.
It was between Lyon and Mâcon that the Master of the Venuses was undoubtedly active in the 17th century, three mortars of which are kept in the apothecary of the Bourg-en-Bresse hospital, two in Cluny, one in Villefranche- sur-Saône and a last one in Annonay.
The dozens of pieces known by this founder are for the most part devoid of buttress and have a decoration made up of groups of three large fleurs-de-lys arranged in a triangle.
These sets can be separated by patterns of repeated plates such as an image of Venus anadyomene (coming out of the water) - it is this last image which was chosen to adorn our mortar - or even a profile of a Roman emperor, a female bust said to be ''of Anne of Brittany'', the profile of the crowned Virgin, a grotesque mask, small heraldic-type lions, possibly suggesting a reference to the city of Lyon.
Book reference ''Mortiers français du XV° au XVIII° siècle'' – Ed Serge Domini in which a mortar very similar to ours is referenced on page 196

Dimensions
H. 10.5 cm x D. 15 cm

Lyon region
Bronze mortar with pestle
Attributed to the Master of Venus
17th century