Topic: Stoneware ? Pot

[Pete]

This thing has been driving me nuts for years.
You will probably go Yeuch !!
I think it's an African Muti (medicine) Pot for grinding up leaves, herbs etc for traditional healing. So its a mortar to us, effectivelyor at least its about the right size and shape.
Now the thing that bugs me is that its soooo heavy ....and I could have sworn I saw it yesterday but it's disappeared overnight !!!
When it reappears I'll measure and weigh it ...it's about 6" tall
So stoneware ?
on the inside it looks greyish white and carved !! - ditto on the base
Thanks in advance
Pete
 

[Libby]

Could it be marble?

[Tigerchips]

Have you tried The Museum Of London?
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/ceramics.asp

[Sue C]

There is also this  (scroll down) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabaster
But could we see a pic of the base? and one of the inside please?

[Tigerchips]

If it wasn't for the fact that it's heavy I would have said it's a carved nut. Maybe it's a heavy nut?

[Pete]

Libby, Thanks for your suggestion.
It does have a coldness to it which you would expect from stone but nowhere near as "cold" as the marble & alabaster items I have. Also the markings on the unside are smooth almost like thumbprints rather than being sharp like tool marks.

Hi Tiger
I had a look at the MoL website. It is fascinating as is the Museum itself. There are several types of early earthen/stoneware shown but how they would relate to this piece I just don't know. Ideally I would contact one of the curators who might know something about it and take the piece along to show them. It's only 10-15 mins on the bus + a 5 min walk from me.  However their contact section is not very helpful in this respect.
I might just have a blind shot.

I'll do more pics including one of the base
Pete