"Superb & Large 17th Cty Bronze Mortar, Attributed To Nicolas De La Paix"
HAUTE EPOQUESuperb and large bronze mortar, flared
*on a heel enhanced with 2 lines.
*The wide rim is decorated with 11 identical medals (3,5*2cm) depicting a large, very detailed and unusual fleur-de-lys, represented horizontally. The inferior part of the main fleur-de-lis separates into 3 other smaller flowers.
*the central and main register includes 4 groups of 3 large medals: female head with Indian headdress (5.8*3.3cm), Saint to be identified (2.8*2.6cm) and antique-style helmeted soldier holding a sword -Alexander The Great? (4.1*2.7cm)
Very nice medal patina, no cast iron defects or fel
Superb quality and perfect manufacturing; Note a stain of fire during melting, darker, on one of the fleur-de-lys in the upper part.
Dimensions: large size, 18cm diameter at the neck and 11cm at its base, height 12cm
This very beautiful mortar seems to me to be attributable to the production of Nicolas de La Paix (Doncourt sur Meuse 1649- Meulan 1722), famous founder of mortars and bells.
Bibliography:
the excellent book “French mortars from the 15th to the 18th century” under the direction of Bertrand BERGBAUER, Guillaume CONVERT, Pauline LURCON and Olivier RAMOUSSE, Serge DOMINI edition, June 2021
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato