Apothecary mortar in marble - late 18th century - France - [ME068]
Apothecary mortar in marble - late 18th century - France - [ME068]
Apothecary mortar in marble - late 18th century - France - [ME068]

Apothecary mortar in marble - late 18th century - France

This frustoconical mortar was sculpted in a block of veined white marble, then patiently polished by hand, to obtain an impeccable softness to the touch and an irreproachable regularity of shapes. That of the tank hollowed out in the shape of a “cul de poule” with a gouge as well as that of the four outer fins forming a perfect quadrilobed rim.
This type of mortar was used in the past in pharmacies of apothecaries to reduce medicinal plants, called “simple” to powder, and to make, by varying compositions and dosages, all kinds of remedies: herbal teas, decoctions, distillations, syrups, macerates, ointments, powders, tinctures, mothers.
This generous veined marble mortar thus bears the traces of the ancestral recipes of natural medicine which were expertly prepared there.

The sculpture of this mortar respects a perfect geometry of shapes, like that of the tank hollowed out in the shape of the most regular "cul de poule" with a gouge.
The sculpture of this mortar respects a perfect geometry of shapes, like that of the tank hollowed out in the shape of the most regular "cul de poule" with a gouge.
The sculpture of this mortar respects a perfect geometry of shapes, like that of the four outer fins forming a perfect quadrilobed rim.
The sculpture of this mortar respects a perfect geometry of shapes, like that of the four outer fins forming a perfect quadrilobed rim.
In the foreground, we can see the spout of this apothecary's mortar carved from a block of veined white marble.
In the foreground, we can see the spout of this apothecary's mortar carved from a block of veined white marble.

Reference: [ME068]
Dimensions
Diameter: 40 cm, height 18 cm.
Price on demand.

I am interested in purchasing






    • All
    • 16ᵗʰ century
    • 17ᵗʰ century
    • 18ᵗʰ century
    • Beech
    • Butcher’s block
    • Cast iron
    • Cast iron vat
    • Cherry wood
    • Chestnut
    • Clock
    • Country furniture
    • Craft furniture
    • Desk table
    • Early 20ᵗʰ century
    • France
    • Giltwood
    • Kitchen furniture
    • Late 18ᵗʰ century
    • Louis XIII
    • Louis XIV
    • Louis XV
    • Marble
    • Metal
    • Midi-Pyrénées
    • Mirror
    • Mortar
    • Oak
    • Objects bearing history
    • Périgord
    • Period furniture
    • Popular art furniture
    • Provincial art
    • Quercy
    • Sculpture
    • Small furniture
    • South of France
    • South West of France
    • Storage cabinet
    • Sugar boiler
    • Table
    • The treasure corner
    • Tools
    • Walnut
    • Wash boiler
    • Wood species

    Mansion clock in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME057]

    Mansion clock in cherry wood – 18ᵗʰ century – Périgord – [ME057] FROM THE SUN TO THE WATCH, FROM PRAYER TO THE POINTEUSE, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE OF TIME The millennial quest for the measurement of time will free itself from the course of the Sun and the flow of water to…

    Beech butcher’s block – early 20ᵗʰ century – [MP022]

    Beech butcher’s block – early 20ᵗʰ century – [MP022] CERTAIN CRAFT FURNITURE RECALLS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES THAT ENCHANT YOUR HOME Haberdashery counter, clothier’s table, butcher’s block, all these pieces of furniture attached to the know-how of the artisans of our neighborhoods awaken happy memories in us. Those of a life where we took the time to…

    Sculpture in anamorphosis of Saint Sebastian – 17ᵗʰ century – South of France – [ME065]

    Sculpture in anamorphosis of Saint Sebastian – 17ᵗʰ century – South of France – [ME065] In the 17th century, in many religious buildings, Saint Sebastian remained tied up while the arrows attached to his legend were no longer represented. At most, they will be suggested. The Saint Sebastian carved in a hundred-year-old walnut that we…

    Walnut storage cabinet – 18ᵗʰ century – France – [ME066]

    Walnut storage cabinet – 18ᵗʰ century – France You have before you the ancestor of the diplomatic bag … It is in fact in this kind of cabinet with drawers that the high dignitaries of the 16ᵗʰ and 17ᵗʰ centuries took their precious documents, cards, titles, treaties and coins of exchange, when they set out…

    Apothecary mortar in marble – late 18th century – France – [ME068]

    Apothecary mortar in marble – late 18th century – France This frustoconical mortar was sculpted in a block of veined white marble, then patiently polished by hand, to obtain an impeccable softness to the touch and an irreproachable regularity of shapes. That of the tank hollowed out in the shape of a “cul de poule”…

    Sugar boiler for the Colonies – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME075]

    From the Périgord Foundries, these cast iron vats are recognizable at first glance. They are rounded in shape, equipped with rod handles and without couladous (drainage in Occitan) which made it possible to stack them for transport. These boilers were indeed intended for export. They were to join by sea, on large ships, the French…

    Large cast iron vat for laundry – 16ᵗʰ century – Fonderies du Périgord – [ME076]

    This large cast iron tub was intended to do the laundry of the entire community. It was filled with boiling water and an ash-based detergent, the very one we are rediscovering today. The drain called the “couladou” made it possible to empty it without spilling it, once the laundry was washed. We can observe two…

    Desk table in oak and chestnut – Louis XIII – 17th century – Quercy – [ME074]

    Desk table in oak and chestnut – Louis XIII – 17th century – Quercy Given the rarity of this type of table that served as a desk, one can imagine that this piece of furniture from Quercy experienced the heyday of river transport on the Lot during the 17th century. This desk table was probably…

    Large Louis XV mirror – gilded wood – late 18ᵗʰ century – Midi-Pyrénées – [ME084]

    Large Louis XV Mirror – Gilded Wood – Late 18ᵗʰ Century – Midi-Pyrénées The imposing frontispiece of this Louis XV mirror seems to have been sculpted to the size of the generous cornucopia that flourishes in the middle. Symbol of fecundity and fertility, it is highlighted by a checkered background of diamonds, all punctuated in…

    Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France – [MP039]

    Mortar and pestle in beech wood – 18th century – South-West of France The pestle of this mortar is held with two hands, and the force exerted to crush chestnuts, for example, is increased by the nails planted on its end. Dimensions: Height: 67 cm, diameter: 38 cm, receptacle depth: 42 cm. Reference: [MP039] {{…