Antique Heavy 8.4-lbs Solid Brass Apothecary Mortar & Pestle, 1880-1900

Description

Antique Heavy 8.4-lbs Solid Brass Apothecary Mortar & Pestle, 1880-1900
Condition: Antique heavy solid brass mortar and pestle at 8-pounds, 5.8-ounces. Aged patina with appropriate signs of wear. Foundry casting fractures AND swirls on bottom are random with no marks.
This very old mortar and pestle is probably English in my opinion, but there are no foundry marks. The piece could also be French, but it’s quality is very good so I think English is right. It is quite heavy at 8.4-pounds, which is a bit unusual.
The mortar has very little ornamentation, with the exception of 4 step moldings on the bottom and 3 steps at the rim. The pestle is also minimally adorned, having 2 steps on either side of a center disk. The interior bottom show wear consistent with heavy use, so there is little doubt that this was a working Apothecary mortar and pestle.
The original use of a mortar and pestle was to aid pharmacists in crushing herbs into powder for medicinal purposes. In France, they were also used in the kitchens of grand chateaux. The material used to construct a mortar and pestle is almost always a hard substance, such as marble or brass, which could stand up to the rigors of use. Today, they are quite collectible, and although they can still be used in the kitchen for grinding spices, they are mostly used as decorative bowls or accessories. This mortar has a nice patina which shows its age well, but is still in very good condition.
Item: Mortar and Pestle
Material: Brass
Age: Estimated at 1880-1900 (very difficult to date this piece. It could be much older)
Weight: 8-pounds, 5.8-ounces
Mortar Dimensions: 6.25” rim diameter, 5.15” bottom diameter, 4.75” high
Pestle Dimensions: 8” long, 1.5” wide at ends
Maker: Unknown
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