Mortar and pestle

This mortar and pestle, by an unknown maker, was formerly owned by Mayer & Kean Ltd, a jewellery-making company operating in Wellington from 1912. The short agate pestle is dark brown, and attached to a wooden handle with a metal fitting. The eight-sided mortar is smoky grey. It is smaller than the palm of your hand.

Agate mortar and pestles have a highly polished surface that is good for grinding medium and hard substances. For this reason, they are used to grind high purity powders. This one likely ground enamel powders due to Mayer and Kean Ltd being producers of enamel jewellery.