The Arcade Gallery - Show Case D

Antique Pharmacy and mortars

Mortar and pastel made of metal, stone or wood were the status symbol of the Alchemist, Herbalist, Healer and later of the Pharmacist. They were used from antiquity to crush and mix minerals and other, usually dried substances (parts of animals, human-even mummies and plants) as medication, spices and foods.

  • Mortar and pastel, cast bronze Italy 1630
  • Two mortars and their pastels, cast Bronze North Africa 16th century

The Rosenberg Museum of Medicine – All Rights Reserved Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – Faculty of Health Sciences