Bronze pestle and mortar

Pestle and mortar from Armada wreck 'San Juan de Sicilia'. Bell shaped mortar with a double-ended pestle with a knop in the middle. Found during dredging work done from 'Sea Light' at Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland, where the ship sank after blowing up on 5 November 1588, with considerable loss. Salvage attempts have been made since the 17th century, with many items recovered over the years - mainly by dredging - the largest being a bronze gun raised in about 1740 and today at Inverary castle.

Object Details

ID: REL0251
Collection: Relics
Type: Pestle and mortar
Display location: Not on display
Events: Anglo-Spanish War: Spanish Armada, 1588
Vessels: Duca di Florentia fl.1588 (Spanish) ?; San Juan de Sicilia
Date made: 1588
People: Knight, F. A.
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Parts: Bronze pestle and mortar