Wooden mortar and pestle

Made:
1501-1800 in Europe
Carved wood mortar and pestle, probably European, 1501-1800

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Carved wood mortar and pestle, probably European, 1501-1800
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Carved wood mortar and pestle, probably European, 1501-1800

Mortars and pestles were a key part of every pharmacist’s and apothecary’s equipment. The pestle, carved from a single piece of wood, is used to pound and mash medicinal plants and herbs and grind up hard ingredients used in medical treatments. The mortar, which in this example looks as though it has been made from a tree branch, is a bowl used to pound against. Today, mortars and pestles are more likely to be found in kitchens rather than pharmacies.

Details

Category:
Pharmacy-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A658930
Materials:
wood
Measurements:
overall: 3.17kg
pestle: 220 mm 81 mm, .28kg
mortar: 214 mm 182 mm, 2.89kg
type:
mortar and pestle