The Mortar Room

The Mortar Room

This is the principal room of the Museum and is dedicated to the most ancient and irreplaceable instrument used by old-time chemists: the mortar. The fruit of uncommon technical skill, often artistically decorated, the mortar has always held a strong symbolic value in the art of pharmacy. Commonly used until the beginning of the XIX century, it became afterwards a much sought after collector’s piece to be displayed in laboratories and chemist’s shops.

Many of the items shown in this room are complete with their own pestle and have been chosen amongst the most significant pieces in the Museum’s collection. Along the walls are displayed some bronze and stone mortars of the highest artistic and technical value while a range of small bronze, alabaster, wood and ivory mortars are exhibited in the glass cabinets.

In this room are also projected the most beautiful botanic images taken from the books of Bibliotheca Antiqua. Ancient texts complete with xilographies are shown in the glass cases in the centre part of the room. Along the walls we find big panels which In the top, an image gallery shows the most important protagonists of the history of botany and medicine.

 

Mortaio in bronzo del '500 Mortaio in bronzo fine '500 Mortaio in bronzo del 1699 Mortaio in bronzo del 1530 Mortaio in bronzo del '600 Mortaio in bronzo del 1625 Mortaio in bronzo del '600 Mortaio iberico in bronzo Mortaio del Marocco, 1700 Mortaio in bronzo di fine '600 Mortaio in bronzo del '700 Mortaio inglese fine '600 Mortaio italiano del 1732 Mortaio in marmo del '600 Mortaio italiano a campana Mortaio veneziano del 1737 Mortaio in marmo dell'Italia meridionale Mortaio in marmo del '400 Mortaio in grès del 1500 Mortaio in pietra d'Istria Mortaio in bronzo del '600 Mortaio in alabastro del '700 Mortaio in bronzo del '500 Mortaio in legno del '600 Mortaio in avorio Mortaio in bronzo del '500 Mortaio in bronzo del '500