17th Century / 18th Century Apothecary’s Oak & Wrought Iron Mounted Crusher

This rare and beautifully made early oak and wrought iron or apothecary’s chemists open ended crusher similar to a mortar and pestle is a rare survivor. The outer open ended case is made from brown oak held together with a blacksmith made wrought iron collars which are finely finished with neatly chamfered edges. This outer part held the substance against a flat surface such as wood or marble whilst the other element which is also made from brown oak was the simple hand held tool used to complete the task of crushing substances ready for use within medicines and herbal remedies.