A large and impressive George II bronze mortar, by the Ashton Foundry, Wigan, Lancashire, dated 1738

Inscribed above the waist in a broad band ‘William Oddie, 1738’, the words spaced by a small heart, and the foundry mark of a bell above initials (?), with four cords above and two below, 34cm diameter, 28.5cm high Provenance: Sold Christie's, South Kensington, London, 7 November 2006, Lot 216. William Oddie is almost certainly the owner, and not the maker, of this mortar. A William Oddie apothecary, died in Clitheroe, Lancashire in 1764. This mortar has a number of common features, including the small heart motif, thin cords and style of the numerals, comparable to mortars made by Ralph Ashton (fl.1703-1728). See Michael Finlay, 'English Decorated bronze Mortars & their Makers' (2010), p. 55-57. - Stock Ref:9065-29