Antique French cast bronze iron pestle and mortar

A delightfully rustic and quite primitive hand cast antique pestle and mortar.
These implements have ancient origins, and can be made in a variety of materials including stone such as granite, marble and wood, or cast metal bronze or Iron like this French example. They were used since very early times to grind and blend herbs, tinctures, and spices, for culinary or medicinal purposes.
This pairing of mortar or bowl, and pestle or grinder, may have been part of the equipment in a pharmacy or chemist's shop, in the preparation of medicines, or used in a domestic setting to grind herbs and spices or ingredients for home remedies. The items are fully functional and would be a lovely addition to a farmhouse kitchen shelf.
Size approx height of mortar 9cm, diameter at top 12cm, base diameter 8cm. Pestle L9cm, diameter 3.5cm.
There are some indistinct numbers impressed into the mortar.
The pestle has a ridged column.
The inside of the mortar is a little rough in finish. This item is made from very heavy cast metal, iron or bronze

We are able to post out parcels from Metropolitan France and shipping fees are shown. Please allow plenty of transit time, as European post is notoriously slow!
*The customer is responsible for any import duties incurred for an item. We will require a telephone number to add to the customs forms, to help prevent any delays or transit problems. If you refuse delivery of an item due to customs costs, please be aware that your parcel's postage costs will be forfeit, although we are happy to refund the item purchase price upon return.
**Please also note that deliveries within France are usually made to a Pont Relais collection point, there are usually a number of these located in shops and supermarkets in each town, and you will be given the opportunity to specify which one you prefer if this service is available for your location. Otherwise I will select the shop with the longest opening hours within your area. Deliveries to other European destinations are generally to your doorstep.
***Currently deliveries to the UK are severely impacted by Brexit paperwork and procedural delays, if you are based in the UK please feel free to message me for an estimate of shipping availability, timescale and cost.

Our items are carefully selected antique and vintage pieces from France and they show the character and charm of years of use. We do not sell new or reproduction items so you can expect to find signs of the age and life that the piece has led. We believe this history adds to the story of an item. Obvious damage and faults will always be mentioned in our descriptions but minor age-related condition issues are not considered a detriment.