Bronze mortar
The heavy bronze vessel in which spices and medicines were crushed with a pestle.
The mortar and pestle is one of the longest-used kitchen tools, for crushing spices, herbs and medicines. Bronze mortars were common in pharmacies and in the kitchen.
Renaissance mortars often have reliefs of flowers, arms and dates. They are heavy so that they stand firmly when one pounds.
Materials: Bronze, cast in a mould
Manufacture: Cast in bronze by a founder and often decorated with reliefs and inscriptions.
The thick, rounded bowl.
The relief decoration and the inscription on the side.
The handles or lugs on the rim.