Bristol-Myers Squibb European Apothecary -- Mortars and Pestles
Mortars and Pestles

The mortar, the symbol of the apothecary, is arguably the oldest of all pharmaceutical equipment. Mortars are made from a variety of materials, including bronze, marble, wood, brass, glass and stone. Apothecaries would have numerous mortars and pestles of various sizes and materials in their shops for different tasks: large mortars were used for bulk material, smaller mortars for grinding fine powders
The majority of the mortars in the Bristol-Myers Squibb European Apothecary collection are made from bronze, an alloy composed of copper and tin. Bronze is sometimes referred to as bell metal, as it was often used in the manufacture of bells for monasteries and churches. Heavy and highly ornamented bronze mortars were made as early as the 12th century, eventually falling out of favor with the introduction of porcelain mortars in 1779 by Josiah Wedgwood.
The earliest mortars in the collection resemble tankards with vertical Gothic ribs. Mortars from the 16th and 17th centuries are elaborately decorated with horizontal decorative bands of flowers and geometric-designs; inscriptions; heraldic shields; and figures of people, animals and insects.
Several of these early mortars have been analyzed with an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer in order to determine their composition. The results are recorded within the descriptions of the individual mortars.
In 1983 Dutch pharmaceutical historians Wolfgang-Hagen Hein and D. A. Wittop Koning visited the collection. After assessing the collection both Hein and Koning wrote letters to the curatorial staff commenting on issues regarding the provenance and the authenticity of mortars and drug jars. Their conclusions have been added to the catalogued descriptions, along with those of the original cataloguer George Urdang.


-
Mortar
- Description
- Cast bronze mortar with bell-shaped mouth and small single semi-circular applied handle with a larger ring. The mortar has a cast cross and six vertical ribs extending from the neck to the end of the waist. It appears the mortar was painted black at one time. Urdang attributes this mortar to 16th century Spain.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 16th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0102
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05655
- collector/donor number
- SAP 367
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- This bronze mortar has a flared rim, beaker-shaped body with six vertical gothic style ribs and a twisted applied handle. A hand written note placed inside mortar reads, "Probably Spanish/ 16th c./ or french". Urdang catalogued this mortar as Germanic, early 15th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0088
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05641
- collector/donor number
- SAP 353
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar and Pestle
- Description
- Wide mouth mortar with two dolphin handles applied at the waist. The body of the mortar has two bands of rosettes, leaves, vines and the profile of a mans face. The brass mortar has rounded ends. Urdang attributes this mortar to 17th century France.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0112.01
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05665.01
- collector/donor number
- SAP 377
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0112.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar and Pestle
- Description
- Beaker-shaped mortar with two knob handles. The body of the mortar has incised lines Marked "ANNO 1783". Based on the decoration of the mortar, Urdang felt this mortar was made within the in Germanic territory.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1783
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0136
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- collector/donor number
- SAP 401
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0136
- M-05689
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar and Pestle
- Description
- Mortar with applied molded insects, vase with flowers, a medallion and incised lines circling the body. The mortar has one dolphin handle applied at the waist. The insects include a grasshopper and a bee. Two lion heads and a larger oval medallion depicting Christ on the cross are flanked by two figures. The mortar has two bulbous ends.
- Urdang goes into detail about this mortar which he attributes to 17th century Germany. In the Squibb ancient Pharmacy Catalogue he writes, "Mortars of this kind with bas-relief decoration of crucifixion group, small animals, bees, grasshoppers, etc., originated in the workshops of Hans Daurnhauser and of Caspar Dietrich at Ingolstaedt.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0130
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05683.01
- collector/donor number
- SAP 395
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0130
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar and Pestle
- Description
- Blown and molded glass mortar and pestle. The mortar's mushroom-shaped handles were blown and applied at the waist. The base of the mortar has three graduated disks of glass, the widest disk is at the bottom. The mouth of the mortar is flared and has four horizontal ribs. The pestle is also hand blown.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0083.01
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05636
- 1991.0664.0083.01
- 1991.0664.0083.02
- collector/donor number
- SAP 348
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar and Pestle
- Description
- Carved octagonal wooden mortar and turned wooden pestle. The pestle has a knob finial and the lower portion of the pestle is scored. The mortar and pestle are probably not original to each other. Urdang felt the form of this mortar to be typical of those found throughout the Rhine River Valley.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0086
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05639
- 1991.0664.0086.01
- 1991.0664.0086.02
- collector/donor number
- SAP 351
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- A cast bronze beaker-shaped mortar with a flared mouth and wide rim. Four vertical ribs on the body terminate at the base with paw-like feet. The square-shaped handle is applied to the body.
- Urdang attributes this mortar to the late 15th century Germany. In the catalogue he writes, "The tall slender form and the lion paws ...are characteristic for this period of German Gothic mortars."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0089
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05642
- collector/donor number
- SAP 354
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Cast bronze mortar with two applied handles at the waist of the vessel. Flowers and leaves scattered around the waist sit above six vertical bands just above the foot of the mortar. The decoration is worn down. Urdang attributes this mortar to 15th century France.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0094
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05647
- collector/donor number
- SAP359
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Gothic-style bronze mortar with flared mouth and four vertical ribs in a "tears" pattern extending out from just below the neck to the bottom of the mortar. Urdang attributes this mortar to 15th century France.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0096
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05649
- collector/donor number
- SAP 361
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Bronze (possibly bell metal) mortar with a wide mouth, two handles in the shape of animals extend out from the center of the body. Serpents, raised ring moldings at the neck, six crude baluster columns at the waist,shields decorated with fleur-de-leis, and the face of a man are randomly scattered around the body of the mortar. Urdang believed this mortar to be French.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0098
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05651
- collector/donor number
- SAP 363
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- This cast bronze mortar has a flared mouth and a single semicircular applied handle. A metal ring encircles the handle. A vine motif decorates the rim, and six vertical ribs and a stylized floral medallion decorate the waist. The body of the mortar has a severe crack.
- Urdang believed this mortar tp be of 16th-century Greek origin.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 16th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0101
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0101
- M-05654
- collector/donor number
- SAP 366
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Short, squat-shaped, brass mortar with wide mouth. Four baluster columns alternate between four stylized flowers. The band of writing just below the mouth is mostly illegible, except for the Roman numeral "MDCCXXXIII." Urdang believed this mortar to be from Spain.
- Testing with a X-Ray floesence spectrometer indicates the chemical composition of this mortar is about 81% copper, 14% Zinc, 3% tin, 2 % lead and trace metals.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1773
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0106
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05659
- collector/donor number
- SAP 371
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Cast short squat mortar with a flared rim decorated with dots. The body of the mortar has full length figures separated by fish, busts, fleur-de-lis, and flowers.
- Urdang attributes the mortar to 16th century France and the bust to the French King Henry IV.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0111
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05664
- collector/donor number
- SAP 376
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0111
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- This bell-shaped eide mouth bronze mortar has five vertical gothic-style ribs at the waist. A single semi-circular is applied at the waist.
- Urdang catalogued this mortar as Germanic, early 15th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0087
- catalog number
- M-05640
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- collector/donor number
- SAP 352
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Gothic beaker-shaped body with a squareish handle and flared mouth. There are five tapering vertical ribs on the body which terminate in paw feet.
- Urdang believes this mortar to be of Germanic origin from the 15th century. Testing with an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer was unable to conclusively determine the type of metal used in the manufacture of this mortar.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0091
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05644
- collector/donor number
- SAP 356
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Gothic-style, beaker-shaped bronze mortar with an applied square handle and three vertical ribs. The ribs extend from a horizontal rib just below the neck to a horizontal rib just above the base of the vessel. Urdang believed this mortar to be of Germanic origin of the late 15th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0092
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05645
- collector/donor number
- SAP 357
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Squat mortar with flared rim, tapering vertical ribs and a single handle with a ring attached.
- Urdang attrributes this mortar to 15th century France.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0095
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05648
- collector/donor number
- SAP 360
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0095
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Short, squat, cast bronze mortar with a flared mouth. Four buttress columns alternate between the head of a woman. Urdang suggests the mortar is 16th century spanish and that the face is that of Medusa.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 16th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0104
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05657
- collector/donor number
- SAP 369
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mortar
- Description
- Short, squat-shaped, bronze mortar with a flared mouth. Four buttress columns alternating between four shields. The shields are coats of arms which are divided into three sections, a crown sits atop each shield and two castles above a running animal. The exterior surface between the neck and the foot has a sandpaper-like quality.
- Urdang attributes this mortar to 16th century Spain.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 16th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0105
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05658
- collector/donor number
- SAP 370
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0105
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History