English Bell-Metal Mortar, inscribed ‘1631 HENRYE NEALE MADE MEE’ and ‘A B S’. Manufactured at the Neale Foundry, Burford, Oxfordshire

Description

English bell-metal mortar, manufactured by Henry Neale at The Neale Foundry in Burford, Oxfordshire in 1631.
The waist, just under the rim, is inscribed ‘1631 HENRYE NEALE MADE MEE’. The words are separated by small heart-shaped stamps and the ‘Ns’ of the inscription are retrograde. One side of the waist is inscribed with the initials ‘A B S’ in a triangle’, indicating ownership. Lettering in this form was often used to indicate joint ownership between a husband and wife, with the top initial being that of their shared surname.
This mortar has two square handles. The base is decorated with a band of overlapping arcs.
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Fact

The Neale Foundry, Burford, Oxfordshire was active from around 1635-1695.