Gemstone mortar made from Black or white Jade.

A mortar or a mortar with pestle is a cup which is used to grind and mix. It is manufactured from hard material (stone, bronze, copper, ceramics, or crystal), and sometimes has a polished interior. In the kitchen, the jack is mainly used to grind spices fine, for further use in sauces, soups and marinades, or to make an electuary. In chemical laboratories, the mortar was used to grind into powder substances. For this use, the mortar is now largely replaced by mechanized crushers; in pharmacies it is still used for some so-called "compounding". The oldest pharmacy in the lowlands (the pharmacy museum in Maaseik) has a nice collection of old mortars.

 
Mortar & Pestle.