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Mortar with Lizard: M.18-1979

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Current Location: Gallery 7 (Courtauld)

Titles

Mortar with Lizard

Maker(s)

Maker: Unidentified Venetian bronze-caster

Entities

Categories

Description

Bronze, cast The mortar is of inverted bell-shape, standing on a low, moulded foot. On one side there is a handle in the shape of a lizard, whose tail curls round the mortar behind it. The lower part of the mortar is decorated with acanthus leaves, the tips of which extend over a filet running round the body. Above there is a band of scrolls, inverted anthemions and suspended fruits. The everted lip of the mortar is decorated with a series of mouldings.

Notes

History note: E.G. Raphael Collection, Mayfair; with Copper & Adams by 16 Sept. 1943; purchased on 25 Feb. 1944 by Lt Col. the Hon. M.T. Boscawen, DSO, MC (1892-1958); lent to the Fitzwilliam Museum

Legal notes

Given anonymously collection of Lt. Col. the Hon. M.T. Boscawen, DSO. MC, in his memory

Measurements and weight

Height: 14.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1979) by Anonymous

Dating

16th Century, Early
Circa 1500 CE - 1530 CE

School or Style

Renaissance

Components of the work

Base Diameter 10.4 cm
Lip Diameter 16.5 cm

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Casting (process) : Bronze, cast

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.18-1979
Primary reference Number: 13993

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Friday 24 January 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Mortar with Lizard" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/13993 Accessed: 2025-12-05 12:01:50

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/13993 |title=Mortar with Lizard |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 12:01:50|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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