Heavy 16th Century French Bronze Mortar With Handles, Dated 1587, 109 Lbs

A large and heavy (it weighs 109 lbs!) example of a traditional French pharmacy bowl, this bronze mortar with handles is from 1587, as seen on the production date beneath the molded rim. There is also a maker’s mark on the main body, between two of the numerous protruding ridges that embellish the heavily verdigris metal. Flanking the mark is a pair of scrolled handles, each wrapped in a curled leaf.

Often made of durable materials, such as stone or marble, mortars were designed to withstand the grinding of the pestle. In France, they were used in the kitchens of grand chateaux. They were also used in apothecaries by pharmacists to crush the herbs into powder for medicinal purposes. Today, most savvy collectors utilize mortars as decorative bowls in various rooms of the house.