Mortar - Stone - Ancient stone mortar

Ancient limestone mortar, hand-carved.
Morphology: It has the shape of an inverted frustum of a cone with a deep hemispherical inner cavity, smoothed by prolonged wear.
Distinctive features: It is equipped with four vertical ribs (often called "ears" or nodules) placed 90° apart from one another. These elements are not merely decorative, but served structural functions:
Stability: They allowed the mortar to be anchored into a wooden support or into a hole in the kitchen counter.
Grip: They facilitated lifting and emptying the contents.
Finishing: The exterior surface shows marks of hand bocciardatura, typical of chiseling work, while the upper edge is beveled to prevent chipping during use of the pestle.