Bronze mortar, attributed to Peter van den Ghein I, 1519
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- Origin
- Mechelen
- Period
- Dated 1519
- Material
- bronze
- Height
- 12.8 cm
- Diameter
- 16.6 cm
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Description
This early cast bronze mortar has the following text on the frieze: 'INT JAER M IIIII XIX' with flowers above a plain ribbed body. The ears of the mortar are shaped like wolf's heads. Based on the dating and the characteristic wolf's heads, the mortar can be attributed to Peter van den Ghein I, one of the Mechelen founding fathers of the famous bronze casting family.
Peter van den Ghein I was the son of bell caster Willem van den Ghein, and lived in 'De Swaene' in Mechelen. Apart from mortars, he is mainly known for his cast bronze clocks. For a mortar by Peter van den Ghein I with similar wolf's heads, see collection Stedelijke Musea Mechelen, inv. no. Met0156.