Mortar and pestle (2) - Stone - Ancient Mortar

Ancient limestone mortar handcrafted with a kitchen or apothecary pestle, dating from 1800–1850.

It presents a reverse truncated-cone shape with a deep hemispherical inner cavity, smoothed by prolonged use, with four protruding handles ("ears" or knobs), positioned 90° from one another; these elements are not merely decorative, but structural in function.

They allowed the mortar to be locked into a wooden support or into a hole in the kitchen or apothecary counter, making it ideal for grinding herbs, spices, or preparing seasonings.

The external surface bears signs of manual planing, typical of chisel work, while the upper edge is beveled to prevent chipping during use, with the pestle made of turned wood.

Mortar measurements: height 13 cm - ear-to-ear 27 cm - weight 6.2 kg.
Pestle measurements: length 27 cm - diameter 5.5 cm - weight 275 g.