This very old carved marble mortar and wooden pestle dates to circa 1800 and originally came from France. 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 stone, which could stand up to the rigors of use. The mortar seen here was carved from an attractive cream colored marble and comes with its pestle. Today, they are quite collectible, and mostly used as decorative bowls or accessories, although they can of course be used once again in the kitchen to grind spices.

CONDITION: Good antique condition with minor wear including small scratches and nicks as seen in photos.