Mortar - Patinated bronze - ancient

Antique mortar with a bronze pestle, traditionally used in pharmaceutical, herbalist, or domestic settings to grind spices and herbs.
It features a characteristic bell-shaped, flared form with sober horizontal ringed mouldings along the upper section and a thick flat base to ensure stability during pounding. The surface shows a dark original patina due to time, typical of bronze casting artifacts dating from the 17th to the 19th century.