English Bell-Metal Mortar, inscribed ‘I S M’ and ‘1657’. Manufactured at the Neale Foundry, Burford, Oxfordshire

English bell-metal mortar, inscribed ‘I S M’ and ‘1657’, was manufactured by Edward Neale, at The Neale Foundry in Burford, Oxfordshire in 1657.
The waist is inscribed with the date ‘1657’ and the initials ‘I S M’ in Roman lettering in a triangle. 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.
The waist is decorated with two winged masks either side of the inscriptions.