Bellarmine

Akanthus · 14th January 2026, 11:21 AM

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, 09:59 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 · 17th January 2026, 05:35 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 · 17th January 2026, 05:51 PM

St.Quirinus

M ELEY · 18th January 2026, 02:43 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.

BANDOOK · 9th April 2026, 10:23 AM

Hi Akanthus, saw your post of Belarmines , here are 2 of mine which I found in India , one is with the Amsterdam coat of Arms .Circa 1570-1600, Raren , Germany

Akanthus · Yesterday, 06:06 PM

Hi BANDOOK
Very nice Bellarmines.One with the three crosses of Amsterdam.Never thought that one could find them in India nowadays.But i think they were spread worldwide in the 17th.and 18th.century.The Tupperware of these times

gp · Today, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akanthus

Hi BANDOOK
Very nice Bellarmines.One with the three crosses of Amsterdam.Never thought that one could find them in India nowadays.But i think they were spread worldwide in the 17th.and 18th.century.The Tupperware of these times

Why not found in India….?

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was active in India from 1604 to 1795, dominant trading power specializing in cotton, silk, opium, and spices. Operating from bases like Surat (Gujarat), Malabar, and Bengal, it rivaled Portuguese and British interests, with its key headquarters located in Kochi after 1663.

Akanthus · Today, 11:12 AM

Up to now for me the history India was primarily connected with the british empire.But evey day you learn something new.Masses of Ballarmines were sold from the Rhinelands ,where they were made,over the Netherlands to England.Lot's of goods like vine,beer,oil or even mercury were shipped in these jugs,because they were very stable.In many shipwrecks of these times they are found worldwide.Most jugs which are shown in books or www are found in central Europe ( Germany,Netherlands,Belgium ) or England.Therefore India was not my first choice to find one.

14th January 2026, 11:21 AM	#1
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 100	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 12:30 PM.

17th January 2026, 05:35 PM	#3
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 100	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; 17th January 2026 at 07:16 PM.

17th January 2026, 05:51 PM	#4
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 100	St.Quirinus Attached Images Last edited by Akanthus; 17th January 2026 at 07:15 PM.

9th April 2026, 10:23 AM	#6
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 632	Hi Akanthus, saw your post of Belarmines , here are 2 of mine which I found in India , one is with the Amsterdam coat of Arms .Circa 1570-1600, Raren , Germany Attached Images

15th January 2026, 09:59 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,227	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-

18th January 2026, 02:43 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,227	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.

Yesterday, 06:06 PM	#7
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 100	Hi BANDOOK Very nice Bellarmines.One with the three crosses of Amsterdam.Never thought that one could find them in India nowadays.But i think they were spread worldwide in the 17th.and 18th.century.The Tupperware of these times

Today, 11:12 AM	#9
Akanthus Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 100	Up to now for me the history India was primarily connected with the british empire.But evey day you learn something new.Masses of Ballarmines were sold from the Rhinelands ,where they were made,over the Netherlands to England.Lot's of goods like vine,beer,oil or even mercury were shipped in these jugs,because they were very stable.In many shipwrecks of these times they are found worldwide.Most jugs which are shown in books or www are found in central Europe ( Germany,Netherlands,Belgium ) or England.Therefore India was not my first choice to find one.