Ink pot with a lid

The ink pot from the second half of the 16th century kept at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is a splendid metal work in the late Renaissance style. Authorship has been attributed to the Italian master Alessandro di Brescia, however more detailed information about his life in Venice and work is scarce. This copper work was made in around 1570–1580. The place of manufacture and stylistics suggests associations with the bronze workshops of Northern Italy.
The ink pot is rather large, its height reaches over 21 cm. The lid features the goddess Fortuna dressed in light drapery reminiscent of the styles from Antiquity, holding the Horn of Plenty to her right. In Roman mythology, Fortuna is the goddess of fortune and fate.
The base of the ink pot is rather massive, richly decorated and is raised on massive feet that look like lion's paws. The body is decorated with female busts and images of satyrs in profile.