Antiquities - ancient Roman pottery mortarium bowl

R14

Roman pottery mortarium bowl

£250

A cream slip ware pottery mortarium bowl. This type of vessel was an essential part of every kitchen belonging to any sizeable building in the Roman empire.

The bowl is of thick construction and allowed herbs and food to be ground and mixed with a pestle (like a modern mortar) and to be poured from the spout. The rim is pierced so that the bowl could be hung on a wall when not in use.

The mortarium was produced in different grades and was also made with inclusions of grit or even small quartz chippings inside the bowl for grinding harder produce: this was the Roman cook's equivalent of a modern food blender.

Roman, probably North African colonies, c. 3rd or 4th Century AD

Intact with some surface wear inside the bowl, probably from use. The rim is slightly raised o one side of the spout due to an ancient mis-firing.

Size: 22.2 (including spout) x 5.5 cms

Ex. UK private collection, UK. Acquired from Annie Trotter Ancient Art c. 1980's.

www.heliosgallery.com

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