Atocha Bronze Mortar

by Abraham Lopez

Bronze mortar vase #53263

Fig-1

The mortar vase has been in use since almost the beginning of human civilization, being one of the older utilitarian elements, which still serve a purpose in modern day. Since early times, mortars were a fundamental tool in the domestic life that was present in all civilization time periods, geographic areas or ethnic groups. According to its role as domestic use, these mortars were made of wood or stone and were basically used for food processing and to prepare pigments from minerals and seeds.

During the height of the middle ages, the mortar vase became more generalized in its use. Mortars were found in every social group with a wide variety of materials used to manufacture them. In general, mortars used for domestic purpose were made using the most common materials available such as wood, stone or ceramic that was usually glazed. Only a few mortars were designed to be used for special purposes such as medicine preparation, chemical compounds or color pigments and were made of metal, specifically bronze or brass. Bronze mortar vases were produced at the foundries in the same way that bells and bronze cannons were produced. Metal mortars were acquired for individuals with certain status or acquisitiveness only because of their high production cost.  At the beginning of the XVII century work on cooper alloys became standardized, specifically on small objects. This appeared at the hands of religious staff that used to grind the incense ingredients for the thurible and pedestal “incensory” during ceremonial acts. Medicine practitioners such as doctors, surgeons, pharmacists, alchemists and healers found the metal mortar vases an irreplaceable tool for therapeutic mixtures and drug preparations. Gunsmiths used them for grinding the charcoal and saltpeter to refine gunpowder for small weapons such as arquebus’ and pistols.

Once the new world was discovered, a fleet system was established to the new colonies. This brought many people to the new settlements. Because of the long transatlantic voyages (taking months) the crews on board the fleet suffered diseases, accidents, storms and pirate attacks with subsequent deaths on board, frequently deleting one quarter of the crew/passengers aboard the ships. Soon the physician on board and religious personal became an integral part of the crew on every ship bound to the new world. Far from real health professionals, the physicians on board were called doctors, onboard surgeons or barbers. Such personnel acted as barbers “tooth-puller”, minor surgeons, nurses and pharmacists. As part of the medical instruments, they carried several mortar vases of different sizes enabling them to make different amounts of preparations. The smaller mortars were the most useful for individual use.

As part of the medical instruments on board the galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, sunk in 1622, several utilitarian instruments were found used by the surgeon on board. The collection compiled through the last 20 years of excavation has been integrated by several size razor blades, scissors, cutters pliers, containers of medicine and potions (albarellos and jars), syringes and a total to date of five mortar vases. Bronze Mortar recovered from Atocha Fig-2 shown to the right

Bronze Mortar recovered from Atocha

Fig-2

The latest mortar recovered from the Atocha was a small bronze mortar vase that has a volumetric capacity of 5 oz., this being the smallest of the five mortars found. The reinforcement decorations on the external walls are very simple, resembling a Moorish influence. No traces of other distinctive decorations (Fig-2), such as animal faces or pillars were observed on the artifact’s body, as usually found on mortar design. The difference between this mortar compared to the others that were recovered during the early excavation years (1970’s-80’s) is that this mortar shows a drive out perforation (puncture) at the bottom. A microanalysis of the cracking shows that this rupture happened by annoyance of the metal surface by a percussion and abrasive action which derivated in a collapse of the bottom wall. Similar signs were observed on the perimeter walls of the body showing small cracks at several areas, which are extended to the exterior creating a geometrical alteration on the original conic shape of the vase. These physical alterations indicate an extensive and strong utilitarian use during the artifact’s active life and not by damage that would have been caused during the wreck of the galleon. In fact it was derelict, stored for recycling or repair, since the bronze was an expensive kind of metal alloy during the Atocha times.

Conservation

After analysis of the physical damage of the artifact was observed, it was considered in relative good condition and was to be treated under standard conservation process. Initially, the piece was placed in a bath of citric acid at 15% solution for 3 hours to remove the thin layer of concretions that appeared on it. Several rinses in dehionized water took place before the artifact was submitted to a sesquicarbonate bath for 4 days. After, the mortar was taken to a measurement and drawing session. Next, the decontamination step was carried out by electrolysis for 12 hours. And finally, the artifact was rinsed in dehionized water and consolidated in benzotriazole alcohol solution, and sealed with b-72.

Bibliography:

Folch ,J.Guillermo: “Catalogo de morteros de farmacia”.Universidad de Madrid.1966: “Catalogo de botes de farmacia”. Facultad de farmacia, Universidad de Madrid.1966

Folch, J.Guillermo : “Ciencia Farmaceutica en el Barroco”.Madrid 1986

Harrington, John Walker: “Mortars cast in medieval Foundries”. http://askaboutantiques.com

Paracelso: Chyrurgia minor, quam alias bertheoneam intitulavit.Cui etiam sequentes tractatus accesserunt,eiusdem authoris. De apostematibus, syronibus, et nodis. De cutis apertionibus. De vulnerum et ulcerum curis, de vermibus, serpentibus etc.ac maculis a nativitate ortis…(1573). Biblioteca publica del estado,fondo antiguo .6224

Stanihurst, Richard: “ Toque de Alquimia”. 1593