Octagonal Agate Mortar Bowl, C20th

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Auction Start: 12/02/25 17:15:00 UTC
Auction Ending: 26/02/25 20:42:00 UTC
Time Remaining: 4d 11h 38m
LOT NUMBER 22
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LOT NUMBER 22

Octagonal Agate Mortar Bowl, C20th

Truly Art Deco in style, the form of this bowl, octagonal with flaring sides and an upright bevel edged rim, deeply cut out to a rounded interior, is however normally regarded as a mortar shape and would have been used with a pestle, probably in the same material. Commonly used in a laboratory context for grinding samples these agate pieces are very much fit for purpose since the stone is much harder than porcelain, thus reducing the level of impurities introduced during the grinding process. Found in a wide variety of locations including Italy, Africa and Brazil, agate, a form of chalcedony with a wide variety of banding effects, was used for jewellery from the earliest of times but has also had practical uses because of its hardness. This bowl shows the typical banding effects of the stone but perhaps because most likely intended for practical use an impurity in the piece used has been left visible (see image 5).
Size: 4 x 10 cm
Weight: 595 grams
Date: C20th
Condition: Good condition, no issues, but with an inherent flaw in the stone
Estimate: £20 – 40

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