AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE BRONZE MORTAR, HENRICK TER HORST, DEVENTER DATED 16?9, PROBABLY 1659

the mortar with two tiers around the exterior, the upper tier with scrolling foliage interspersed with nude female figures, the lower tier with hunting scenes, inscribed around the rim exterior: HENRICK TER HORST FECIT * DAVENTRIA * ANNO 16 9, with casting flaws including cracks to the upper tier and a mis-shapen rim, rich brown patina, with iron pestle

Related Literature:
Wittop Koning 1989, fig. 55 and p. 53

The foremost renowned Dutch founder, Henrick ter Horst, originated from Geesteren near Borculo and died probably in 1666. He established his workshop around 1620 in Deventer where he cast mortars and bells until circa 1660.
A very similar mortar, dated 1661 and cast with identical scenes, probably of the same large size is documented by Wittop Koning (op.cit. fig. 55). Another mortar of the same size is preserved at the Boerhave Museum, Leiden.