This pestle was used with a mortar to grind substances in a traditional Chinese method of preparing medicinal drugs. This type of pestle, with wooden handle and detachable glazed ceramic head, was probably produced in the early 20th century. It is one of the contents of a Chinese medicine chest held at the Asian Studies Department at the University of Sydney since the late 1950's and later donated to the Powerhouse Museum in 1994. The chest is part of a small collection of Chinese artefacts thought to have been collected in China in the beginning of the 20th century by an Australian protestant missionary J. Whitsed Dovey, as examples of traditional cultural practices.The medicine chest and its contents were part of a display and study collection used to educate missionaries about local Chinese medical practices.

Unschuld, Paul U, 'Medicine in China: Historical Artifacts and Images', New York 2000, p51

Presumed to have been made in China

This pestle is part of the contents of a Chinese medicine chest held at the Asian Studies Department of the University of Sydney since the late 1950's, and later donated to the Powerhouse Museum in 1994. The chest was among a small collection of Chinese artefacts and medicinal substances related to traditional cultural practices, thought to have been collected in China in the first half of the 20th century by an Australian protestant missionary J. Whitsed Dovey (1887-1956).

Pestle, head and handle, from Chinese medicine chest, wood/ceramic/glaze, maker unknown, China, c. 1925.
Cylindrical wooden handle with detachable ceramic pestle head; top surface of pestle is glazed.
(-1) Handle
(-2) Pestle head

Made: China; 1920 - 1930

Owned: Asian Studies Department of the University of Sydney; Sydney

96/253/1-35

1920 - 1930