A Fine Gray - Blue Agate Apothecary's or Colourman's Mortar and Pestle (1700 to 1800 England)

Agate and rosewood

12.00cm wide 5.00cm high (4.72 inches wide1.97 inches high)

Used to grind a small amount of a valuable medicinal substance by an apothecary or possibly used by an artist colourman to grind precious materials for use in miniature painting or illuminating manuscripts .
The renaissance miniaturist Nicholas Hilliard described the materials used in the late 16 th century and early 17 th century '….. the goume to be 'Goume Aarabeeke' of the whitest and briclest broken into whit pouder , on a faire and cleare grinding stone , and whit sugar candy in like sort to be kept dry in boxes of ivory , the grinding stone of fine cristall , serpentine , jasper or hard porfory …..'

A Fine Gray – Blue Agate Apothecary’s or Colourman’s Mortar and Pestle , the handle of rosewood
Late 18 th – Early 19 th Century
Size : 5 cm high , 12 cm dia. – 2 ins high , 4¾ ins dia.
17 cm long , 6¾ ins long ( pestle )