Gilded, pierced and incised copper pilgrim’s bottle. Venice. Italy. 18th century.
Originally, this type of pilgrim’s bottle would contain a Murano glass bottle in the interior. This has not been preserved and has been substituted by a wooden one. On both sides it has the image of the lion, emblem of Saint Mark, and beneath each of them is a section containing the coat of arms of the Mocenigo family, seven members of which were Dukes of Venice from 1414 to 1778. There is elaborate decoration all over the surface of characters, scrolls, floral elements and there is a pair of bronze masks affixed to each side.
Maximum measurements: 54,5 x 22,5 x 14 cm