Bellarmine

Akanthus · 14th January 2026, 12:21 PM

Dear members,
I bought this Bellarmine some days ago.I would date it around 1600.Has someone an idea what's is the meaning of the nine circles you find three times on the jug ? Perhaps someone is able to solve the three letters RVT.?
I am curious.....

M ELEY · 15th January 2026, 10:59 AM

Very nice Bellarmine! I have a slightly larger example, but unfortunately damaged. From my research, it appears the early types had the emblems of towns and regions of the Rhineland, but the later types had fictitious decorative markings. The letters, however, could certainly be the initials of the previous owner-

Akanthus · Yesterday, 06:35 PM

Eley ,thank you for your answer.I can't stop thinking about this.I have learned that Bellarmines were often decorated with coats of arms.Realistic ones ,connected to families or cities and invented ones, but similar to reality .But why 9 Spheres ? For me that's too concise for beeing an invention.Searching around i found Quirinus,the patron saint of the city of Neuss in the rhinelands.His attributes are nine spheres on his shield and flag.Perhaps that is a connection to the decoration on the Bellarmine, which most probably was made in Frechen,a city also in in the rhinelands.The RVT could be the initial of the trader or even the potter.I learned that traders in those times often ordered a certain decoraton on their goods,depending on the placec they wanted to sell them.Many pilgims went to Neuss to visit the shrine of St.Quirinus and this was certainly a good market for things with the nine spheres.Perhaps that solves the puzzle

Akanthus · Yesterday, 06:51 PM

St.Quirinus

M ELEY · Today, 03:43 AM

Wow, Acanthus, this is really great information and it would seem you are onto something. Now I'll have to do some research on my Bellarmine to see if perhaps it is more than a 'fantasy symbol' on mine. Admittedly, yours is earlier than mine and many of the smaller, early types did indeed have real coats-of-arms.

14th January 2026, 12:21 PM	#1
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 91	Bellarmine Dear members, I bought this Bellarmine some days ago.I would date it around 1600.Has someone an idea what's is the meaning of the nine circles you find three times on the jug ? Perhaps someone is able to solve the three letters RVT.? I am curious..... Attached Images Last edited by Akanthus; 14th January 2026 at 01:30 PM.

Yesterday, 06:35 PM	#3
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 91	Eley ,thank you for your answer.I can't stop thinking about this.I have learned that Bellarmines were often decorated with coats of arms.Realistic ones ,connected to families or cities and invented ones, but similar to reality .But why 9 Spheres ? For me that's too concise for beeing an invention.Searching around i found Quirinus,the patron saint of the city of Neuss in the rhinelands.His attributes are nine spheres on his shield and flag.Perhaps that is a connection to the decoration on the Bellarmine, which most probably was made in Frechen,a city also in in the rhinelands.The RVT could be the initial of the trader or even the potter.I learned that traders in those times often ordered a certain decoraton on their goods,depending on the placec they wanted to sell them.Many pilgims went to Neuss to visit the shrine of St.Quirinus and this was certainly a good market for things with the nine spheres.Perhaps that solves the puzzle Last edited by Akanthus; Yesterday at 08:16 PM.

Yesterday, 06:51 PM	#4
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 91	St.Quirinus Attached Images Last edited by Akanthus; Yesterday at 08:15 PM.

15th January 2026, 10:59 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,216	Very nice Bellarmine! I have a slightly larger example, but unfortunately damaged. From my research, it appears the early types had the emblems of towns and regions of the Rhineland, but the later types had fictitious decorative markings. The letters, however, could certainly be the initials of the previous owner-

Today, 03:43 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,216	Wow, Acanthus, this is really great information and it would seem you are onto something. Now I'll have to do some research on my Bellarmine to see if perhaps it is more than a 'fantasy symbol' on mine. Admittedly, yours is earlier than mine and many of the smaller, early types did indeed have real coats-of-arms.