London Made Bronze Mortar

A wonderful seventeenth century bronze mortar, made at Whitechapel between 1632 and 1640, and thereby cast under under the charge of John Clifton.

5.5 inches high x 7.25 inches diameter at the rim

The bell foundry at Whitechapel was, until relatively recently, the oldest established firm in England having been founded in 1567. A similar mortar is illustrated in Finlay’s work on the subject (No.87 and colour plate 5a), formerly in his collection, that being signed and dated but with the same two bands of scrolls and shells. Although this mortar is without date from the Whitechapel foundry and dating from the seventeenth century, it should be noted that Mr.Finlay finds that Clifton ‚’usually signed his work with his initials’. Such a sign is not present with this mortar.