Pharmaziemuseum der Universität Basel
Until April 27, 2025

Whether in the kitchen or in the pharmacy, the mortar was and is a popular tool. Rubbing, crushing, grinding—it can do a lot, and has done so for a very long time. In the pharmacy, it was used to make medicines. In the kitchen, it was used to grind ingredients. In addition, the mortar is also a symbol of pharmacy—as a decoration on a coat of arms or as a magnificent anniversary gift.

The special exhibition “Mortar” examines the question of why there are so many different mortars and how they were used. The recipe is often the decisive factor, because whether a stone or bronze mortar is used usually depends on what is to be processed. Mortars made of bronze or brass are traditionally cast like bells or cannons. The exhibition presents for the first time the Roth and Weitnauer foundry families, who have been based in Basel for a long time and whose craft has shaped the Basel area for centuries.

https://pharmaziemuseum.ch/en/museum/ausstellung/sonderausstellung#

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