Fortnightly Auctions Of Antiques, Collectables, General Furniture and Effects. New Lots Added Daily.
Sold for: £26
This lot comprises two apothecary style mortar and pestle sets of varying sizes. The larger set features a thick-walled, heavy-duty mortar constructed from unglazed white vitrified ceramic with a prominent pouring lip and a wide base. It is accompanied by a composite pestle consisting of a rounded ceramic grinding head joined to a turned hardwood handle with a flared pommel. The underside of the larger mortar bears an impressed mark, appearing to be the number 9 or a lower-case g. The smaller set consists of a solid white ceramic mortar with a glazed exterior and an unglazed interior grinding surface, paired with a matching solid ceramic pestle featuring a glazed handle and a textured unglazed head. Both sets exhibit signs of use consistent with pharmaceutical or culinary grinding.
Mortar (Large) exterior diameter: 29 cm
Pestle (Large) length: 35.5 cm
Mortar (Small) exterior diameter: 15 cm
Pestle (Small) length: 16.5 cm.
Condition report:
The larger mortar shows significant surface staining and grey scuff marks to the interior grinding bowl (photo 3). The unglazed base ring of the large mortar exhibits heavy shelf wear, pitting, and minor chips (photo 4). The wooden pestle handle has visible finish wear and light scuffing (photo 2). The smaller mortar contains reddish-brown staining to the interior unglazed surface (photo 5). No structural cracks or large impact chips are visible on either ceramic set.
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