A Large Bronze Cauldron Bearing the Founder’s Monogram ‘RM’

An exceptionally well-preserved late Elizabethan or early Jacobean bronze cauldron, of deep cylindrical form with a broad everted rim and slightly waisted body, raised on three integral peg feet and fitted with heavy, rectangular-section handles. The vessel displays extensive hand-finishing and turning to the underside, characteristic of high-quality foundry work in the Whitechapel tradition. Near one handle appears a finely cast ligatured monogram “RM”, the letter R surmounting a broad M with a distinctive curled or scrolled terminal—clearly executed in the mould rather than engraved after casting.
The form and letter-style correspond closely with the output of the Whitechapel bell- and metal-foundry operating in London during the later 16th and early 17th centuries. The RM monogram is plausibly that of Robert Mot (fl. 1574–1608), one of the foremost founders of his day, whose bells inscribed “ROBERTVS MOT ME FECIT” still hang in numerous English churches, including St Clement Danes (1588). Mot’s foundry—descended from the historic Whitechapel bell-house—produced not only bells but also mortars, ewers, and domestic vessels in high-tin bronze. The present mark shares the same upright, Renaissance capitals and curled R-terminal seen on verified examples of Mot’s work, suggesting either direct authorship or that of a close associate employing his moulds and stamps.
Condition
The surface with a rich, naturally patinated bronze tone, minor abrasions consistent with age and long use; integral feet and handles intact; no significant structural losses. The founder’s mark remains crisp and legible.