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Mortar

15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This limestone mortar is made in Italy in the 15th century. It is carved with arabesques and two armorial shields.
The word ‘mortar’ comes from the Latin ‘mortarium’, meaning ‘to bite’.
Objects like mortars were produced in a variety of materials and were, with their pestles, the primary means of grinding substances before the industrial revolution. Metal mortars were particularly effective for harder substances. During the 16th century when these mortars were made they would have been used in cooking and making medicines, cosmetics and other potions. They were found in hospitals, pharmacies and households (which also often produced their own remedies); in artist’s studios (for grinding colours) and in the alchemist’s workshop (for producing powders for use in experiments). The poisonous nature of some metals was known even in antiquity, and using substances ground in metal mortars was therefore potentially dangerous. However, probably due to their effectiveness, metal mortars continued to be used until powdered grinding machines took over. Of course non-metal mortars (notably ceramics, marble and wood) are still widely used.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Limestone carved with arabesques
Brief description
Mortar, limestone, Italy, 15th century
Physical description
Mortar in limestone carved with arabesques, and two armorial shields.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 20.54cm
Object history
Bought for £5 in 1863.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This limestone mortar is made in Italy in the 15th century. It is carved with arabesques and two armorial shields.
The word ‘mortar’ comes from the Latin ‘mortarium’, meaning ‘to bite’.
Objects like mortars were produced in a variety of materials and were, with their pestles, the primary means of grinding substances before the industrial revolution. Metal mortars were particularly effective for harder substances. During the 16th century when these mortars were made they would have been used in cooking and making medicines, cosmetics and other potions. They were found in hospitals, pharmacies and households (which also often produced their own remedies); in artist’s studios (for grinding colours) and in the alchemist’s workshop (for producing powders for use in experiments). The poisonous nature of some metals was known even in antiquity, and using substances ground in metal mortars was therefore potentially dangerous. However, probably due to their effectiveness, metal mortars continued to be used until powdered grinding machines took over. Of course non-metal mortars (notably ceramics, marble and wood) are still widely used.
Bibliographic reference
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1863. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 40
Collection
Accession number
8885-1863

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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