A leaded bronze mortar, probably Deventer, Holland, dated 1708


Possibly from the workshop, or using a mould, of Gerrit Schimmel (fl. 1664 - 1705)Cast with an everted rim, above a band cast 'LAUS DEO [Praise God] 1708', the body cast with a frieze depicting a hunt in a landscape, with a house, a rider carrying a musket, a pikeman, a rabbit, a deer and a boar, with inset foot, 15.5cm diameter x 13cm high
|Provenance: Ex. North Country Museum [possibly Doncaster].Attributed to the workshop of Gerrit Schimmel on the basis of its similarity to mortars cast by both him and Henrick ter Horst, whose workshop he took over in 1680. A mortar dated circa 1677 was sold Christie's, 21 - 22 September 2010, Lot 231, and was cast with the same hunting frieze. Another with the same frieze, and dated 1668, signed by Schimmel, is also known (sold Christie's, 30th June - 1st July 2009, Lot 9).