Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria
Roman Mortarium / Mortaria

Roman Mortarium / Mortaria

Regular price£58.00
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Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
*Tax inclusions only apply to UK orders. Local taxes might be applied on receipt of international orders.

Details

Food is such an essential part of human existence, not only because it sustains us; it reminds us of home, family or happy times. The food we know and love creates a feeling of safety and comfort. Therefore, it is little wonder that the Romans brought so much of their food and cooking culture with them to Britain, including a wide array of cooking utensils and tools. 

One such essential cookery tool is the mortarium, used to grind herbs and spices on the coarse grit embedded into the bowl's internal surface. It was possibly the ancient equivalent of a food processor. 

 Initially imported, there have been many examples found in Britain that were East Gaulish imports. However, Romano-British potters soon caught on and began to produce their own versions with production sites identified in the Nene Valley (2nd to 4th centuries AD) potteries and near Crambeck, Yorkshire (2nd century AD)

Form 43  

'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready. 

'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.

Materials

Earthenware, terracotta with quartz grit

Dimensions

Approx. 80 mm tall, 255 mm diameter

Production

This replica Roman pot was hand-made in Northumberland by Potted History and based on an original artefact. It has been fired to emulate the authentic Roman firing conditions to a temperature between 800°C & 1000°C, as the original potters would have done nearly two thousand years ago. This process often results in variations of the surface colour and texture, as is found with original Roman Pottery, giving each pot its unique character.

Health and Safety

This Museum Quality Replica was made using the tools and techniques that ancient potters would have used during this era. This is an unglazed pot with a porous surface; it will absorb some of the flavours during the cooking process, adding to the flavour of future dishes. However, it also means that this pot does not meet modern Health and Safety standards, so we do not advise that it be used for cooking. Although our replicas are often used for Experimental Archaeology purposes, you do so at your own risk if you choose to use this item for cooking, 

When the Romans cooked in these pots, they relied on applying sufficient heat to the pot and contents to ensure that high temperatures killed all bacteria. Heating to over 70°C for at least 10 minutes would have killed most disease-causing bacteria, and temperatures of 100°C would do even more.

It is likely that the first time a mortarium was used, ancient cooks ground down the internal surface with a pestle to remove any grit that was not fully embedded in the clay's surface. This would have helped to avoid any dental emergencies.  

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please contact us for a quote. Many Thanks

 

 

SHIPPING

'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready. 

'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.

We ship our fabulous replicas worldwide.
Shipping costs are worked out during checkout. They are based on where you are in the world and how heavy your parcel is, which can be very variable.

All items are sent using a second-class postal service. If you wish to have an item sent first class, please contact us for a quote. Many Thanks

RETURNS
If you aren't completely satisfied with your Potted History piece, please get in touch to organise a return. Email us at

clare@rothburycreates.co.uk

Then you can send it back at your own cost in an unused condition within 30 days, and we'll refund you for the cost of the item or items returned. If you include your order number with the returned package, that will speed things up. Please leave any original packaging intact.

Our returns address is:
Potted History, Gregory Court, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7SW

PRODUCT VARIATION

Please be aware that due to items being handmade and finished, colour variations will occur during the making process, and each replica will have some differences.  Also, know that the item photographed may not be the one that you receive, and colours can appear differently on different screens.  Please ensure you look at all the images to get a fully formed idea of the item you are ordering as we try to capture the variations within the images we share.  If you prefer a specific colour variation, please contact us before ordering. 

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