National Museum of American History
Mortar
1474
A cast mortar with two applied square handles. The mouth of the vessel is flared and has a decorated band of alternating fleur-de-leis, gothic letters and leaves. Three raised rings are at the center of the body. The base of the mortar is formed by three graduated disks. A small circular copper disk has been placed in the bottom of the mortar to cover a hole. Marked "anno domini M CCCC L." Testing the metal content with an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer concluded that the predominate material to be copper. The turned pestle has rounded ends.
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