I believe this 19th century mortar and pestle is made of lignum vitae. The wood has a nice figure and lovely patina. The mortar is slightly out-of-round which indicates its hand made nature. There are many aesthetically pleasing incised turnings to both the mortar and pestle. The artisan took their time with this one. The stepped base turning is especially attractive and still crisp, and the rim shows a softening that comes with years of handling. The mortar is 7" high by 4" in diameter. The pestle measures 8.25" long by 2" in diameter.
