Bronze Mortar - Master Of Venus - 17th Century

A very fine bronze mortar with a beautiful brown patina, truncated in shape and with a flared rim, attributed to the "Master of the Venuses."

The Master of the Venuses was probably active between Lyon and Mâcon in the 17th century. Three of his mortars are preserved in the apothecary of the hospital in Bourg-en-Bresse, two in Cluny, one in Villefranche-sur-Saône, and a final one in Annonay.

The dozens of known pieces by this founder are mostly without buttresses and feature a decoration consisting of three large fleurs-de-lis arranged in a triangle.

These fleurs-de-lis may be separated by repeated plaquette motifs. Our mortar also features a rooster surrounded by two heraldic lions, which may suggest a reference to the city of Lyon, two winged angel heads, an antique-style male bust, and a medallion possibly representing Venus and Mars.

Some decorations identical to those on our mortar are referenced on page 196 of the book "French Mortars from the 15th to the 18th Century" – Ed. Serge Domini, and allow us to attribute this piece to the Venus Master, active in the 17th century.

Dimensions

H. 11 cm x D. 17 cm

Lyon region

Bronze mortar with a beautiful brown patina

Attributed to the Venus Master

17th century