Chinese Mortar or Grinding Vessel

A wide, chalky bowl with thick walls and a surface like frozen powder.

This cut stone mortar or grinding vessel is from China, and dates to the early 20th century. Stone grinding vessels were household tools in many regions of China, used for preparing food, herbs and pigments before modern equipment became common. A broad, round vessel with sloping sides and a thick rim, hollowed out in the middle. The surface is soft white with faint vertical tool marks and light grey smudges, and the base is wide and flat. It is 4.8 inches high and 6.3 in diameter.

Pale, plain, and perfectly content to be a bowl.