An unusual Franco-Flemish bronze mortar 16th century

with four shaped handles, two with cog shaped rings, the body decorated with devices including heraldic lions, a wolf using a pestle and mortar, a spread eagle, foliate motifs and a grotesque beast together with a smaller French bronze mortar, 16th century, with a flared rim above six shaped 'buttresses' and mask decoration (2)

The larger example is very unusual with those double handles and 'cogs'. The piece exhibits typical signs of wear. There are typical signs of use that one would expect to see on a piece of such age. The applied motifs to the body are rubbed but very charming. Usual surface pitting and there are some paint spots. A rare and good example. The smaller example has indents to the rim and again typical signs of use. There is surface pitting and ingrained dirt. An attractive small mortar.
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