Substantial 17th-Century Polychrome Marble Mortar - 15¾"

A grand 17th-century mortar carved from richly figured polychrome marble typical of southern France, this sculptural vessel displays deep swirls of rose, russet, and soft gray throughout its dense stone. The generously rounded body is encircled by four substantial lug handles beneath a broad, thick rim, giving the piece visual strength. The surface bears the honest traces of centuries of use, including scattered edge chips and fine scratches that have softened the marble and created a timeworn patina. These marks contribute to the piece’s character and underscore its utilitarian origins, as mortars were historically used in kitchens and apothecaries to prepare ingredients by crushing and grinding them with a pestle.

Quietly monumental, the mortar brings grounded gravitas to an interior, its rarer polychrome marble lending visual depth and decorative interest. It serves beautifully as a centerpiece on a kitchen island or console, filled with citrus, branches, or dried herbs, or repurposed with a discreet liner for flowers or chilled bottles.