Chinese Mortar or Grinding Vessel

Tall, narrow and pink-grey, like a stone chimney pot.

Made in Hunan Province, China, in the 19th century, this mortar or grinding vessel is carved from stone. Tall stone mortars like this were commonly used to pound grain and other foodstuffs. The form is a straight-sided cylinder with a thick wall and a shallow, round hollow in the top. The stone is a mottled rose-grey with mineral stains near the rim and an uneven, hand-finished surface.

About 17 inches tall and 18 across. A plain tower that does well in a hallway.