Sometimes they formed private clubs, meeting in certain
rooms for purposes of youthful merriment.
Of this kind was the "Society of the Cauldron" ("Societa del Paiuolo"),
held at the apartment of the eccentric sculptor, Rustici, which was in
the same street as that of Andrea himself.
Sansovino, who also lived near, was not a member of this rollicking
club; he was one of Andrea's more serious friends, and served as
companion when his most exalted moods were upon him. Perhaps Rustici's
rooms did not please Sansovino, for strange inmates were there--a
hedgehog, an eagle, a talking raven, snakes and reptiles, in a kind of
aquarium; besides all these gruesome familiar spirits, Rustici was
addicted to necromancy. The Society of the Cauldron seems only a
natural outgrowth from such a character. It consisted of twelve
members, all artists, goldsmiths, or musicians, each of whom was
allowed to bring four friends to the supper, and bound to provide a
dish. Any two members bringing similar dishes were fined, but the droll
part of it was that the suppers were eaten in a huge cauldron large
enough to put table and chairs into; the handle served as an arched
chandelier, the table was on a lift, and when one course was finished
it disappeared from their midst, and descended to be replenished.
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