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Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
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  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
  • Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
Exceptional Early New England Red-Painted Treenware Mortar and Pestle
$485.00 USD

American, New England, possibly Maine, circa 1820–1850
Mortar: 8¼” H × 6” opening
Pestle: 11¼” L × 3½” diameter at working end
An extraordinary and impressively proportioned early American wooden mortar and pestle, possessing tremendous folk art presence, beautifully executed turning, and a wonderfully rich, timeworn oxblood-red painted surface. Acquired in Maine, this substantial example of early New England treenware is distinguished by its bold architectural form, unusually massive original matching pestle, and exceptional decorative appeal.
The deeply hollowed mortar is beautifully turned from a substantial block of wood, featuring a broad, flaring pedestal base, gracefully rounded bowl, prominent molded collar beneath the thick rim, and finely incised concentric decorative lines encircling the body. Its wonderfully sculptural silhouette is enhanced by a rich, deep cranberry and oxblood-red painted surface, displaying subtle variations in color, mellowed highlights, darkened recesses, and appealing evidence of generations of handling and use.
Especially remarkable is the enormous 11¼-inch turned wooden pestle, with its exceptionally broad 3½-inch working end, elegantly shaped handle, and beautifully rounded ball finial. The pestle retains matching deep-red paint on its handle and upper shoulder, while extensive working wear has exposed the warm, naturally aged wood of its massive grinding end. The remarkable contrast between the richly painted surfaces and honey-colored exposed wood gives the entire ensemble outstanding primitive folk art character.
The mortar’s deeply worn interior, natural shrinkage checking, and beautifully aged unpainted underside further contribute to its authentic early character. An old vertical age crack extends through the body and pedestal, consistent with the natural movement of the substantial solid wood.
A particularly handsome and unusually large example of early painted American treenware, combining wonderful original character, striking oxblood-red color, bold sculptural proportions, and the desirable survival of its closely fitting matching pestle.