A heavy unglazed porcelain mortar and pestle set; the mortar (a) is bowl shaped with a spout cut in the rim for pouring and has a flat base; the pestle (b) consists of a porcelain base and a shaped wooden handle.
A heavy unglazed porcelain mortar and pestle set; the mortar (a) is bowl shaped with a spout cut in the rim for pouring and has a flat base; the pestle (b) consists of a porcelain base and a shaped wooden handle.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - mortar - Size: Height 9.7 cm x Diam. 17 cm
b - pestle - Size: Length 25 cm x Diam. 5.8 cm
Provenance
Found in a cabinet in the donors' basement after they bought the house from John Briscoe of Briscoe's pharmacy which was located at 229 Princess Street in Kingston from 1954 to 1966; it is likely that Briscoe acquired the collection during his career as a pharmacists
Ceramic mortars were invented in 1780 but due to the nature of this collection it is probably much later, most likely late 19th century.
Material
earthenware: cream
wood: brown
Inscriptions
"MADE IN// ENGLAND// 5" engraved on the base of the mortar; "5" engraved on the head of the pestle near where it meets the wood
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A8-2
Temporary Location
With MHC Education Program “March Towards Medicine” stored in Rm 2017
Condition Remarks
The mortar is stained on the inside and outside; #2: minor stains; pestle has a minor surface crack around the base.
Reference Types
Book
Other
JPG
Reference Comments
"The Victorian Chemist and Druggist", by W.A. Jackson, Shire Publications Ltd, Buckinghamshire, England, 1981; Kingston City Directories; CD #9.
Research Facts
John Briscoe took over Bishop's Drugs Ltd in 1954; Bishop owned another store at 528 Princess Street from 1946 to 1954 and it had been a drug store under other ownership from 1923 until 1946; this is a possible origin of some of the collection
Exhibit History
(b) On exhibit in "Friendly Fire 1812," Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 27 Feb. 2012 - 7 Sept. 2012: L-20120-2.