STONE MORTAR. 18TH CENTURY.

Mortar. Carved stone. 18th century. A mortar carved from a single piece of stone, featuring a circular base and four worn, cup-shaped handles or projections. These mortars were created for use in pharmacies (which could be located in a city, a religious institution, or a hospital) or in a kitchen (of a large residence or, again, a religious institution). Their specific purpose cannot be determined further due to the lack of decorative elements and the commonality of the model to which this piece belongs, a style with a long tradition in Europe. Similar examples are preserved, for instance, in the Museum of Hispanic Pharmacy at the Complutense University of Madrid, the Museum of the History of Pharmacy in Seville, the Pharmacy Museum in Krakow, and others.

· Size: 73x73x45 cms.