Vijzel met opschrift: ALLEX ENNDORFFER DER GOS MICH 1538 1538

This bronze mortar, crafted in 1538 by Alexander Endorfer, bears an inscription invoking divine favour: "ALLEX ENNDORFFER DER GOS MICH." The handle is adorned with stylized foliage, hinting at nature's bounty and the earthly origins of the mortar's contents. Consider the act of grinding itself, a transformative process echoed throughout history, from ancient Egyptian apothecaries to medieval alchemists. The mortar and pestle, ubiquitous symbols of transformation, appear in countless artistic depictions across cultures. The grinding action, a rhythmic and repetitive motion, speaks to a primal human need to alter and control the natural world. Just as the caduceus, a symbol of medicine, entwines snakes around a staff, this mortar connects the practical and the sacred. The inscription, a plea for divine assistance, suggests an understanding of the unseen forces at play in the mundane act of preparation. The image carries an emotional weight, an ancient connection to healing, transformation, and the cyclical nature of life and death.