Mortarium

"mortaria") was one of a class of Ancient Roman pottery kitchen vessels.

[1] Stamps on some early Roman mortaria record the name of the potter, from which it is possible to trace their movement between workshops.

[2] Some vessels produced in Italy and Gaul are transported long distances but local factories dominate at most periods.

[4] Many fancy red mortaria had a small hole near the top to allow the discharge of liquids, which was artistically made to appear as the mouth of a lion, mouse, or bat.

The English word mortar derives from classical Latin mortarium, possibly with some influence from the French mortier.

Mortarium with simple pouring spout, made in the vicinity of Verulamium in Britain, 1st century AD.