Bronze mortar with flared rim, moulded foot ring, band of decoration an waist, Beardmore factory, London, English, 1766 to 1788

A mortar was used with a pestle to crush and grind ingredients to create drug preparations – often in the form of powders, ointments or solutions. This mortar is typical of the period as it is made from bell metal – a form of bronze – and its shape suggests it may well have been cast in a bell foundry. It is pictured here with a brass pestle (A655697).