Fragment

Date43-409

MediumTerracotta

ClassificationsContainer

Terms

Object numberC00973

DescriptionHalf fragment of a "mortarium" in the form of a shallow bowl with a wide rim. Found at Lombard Street, London in 1866.

Mortaria were used for grinding wheat or corn or herbs and spices and are still used today (mortar and pestle).

Although many mortaria were stoneware, which is a tough material it was not uncommon to find hand spun pottery versions either. In comparison to most pottery though, they tended to be made of more dense material and would have a coarse inside created by pressing small pottery fragments into it before firing. This was to make it easier to grind the spices etc. against the rough surface.

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