Mortar with Foliate Grotesques, Goats' Heads, and Ribbed Handles

Italian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture is a vessel with a wide, flaring rim and two rounded handles. The surface is textured with raised relief designs featuring figures and ornamental motifs. The material appears to be a dark, metal alloy with a dull sheen. The vessel stands upright, displaying decorative embellishments that wrap around the body in repeating patterns. The craftsmanship exhibits detailed work emphasizing the three-dimensionality and symmetry of the design elements.